Legal Definitions - across-the-board

ACROSS-THE-BOARD

Across-the-board is an adjective that means applying to all classes, categories, or groups. For example, an across-the-board tax cut would apply to all taxpayers regardless of their income level.

• An across-the-board pay raise for all employees.
• An across-the-board ban on smoking in public places.
• An across-the-board reduction in government spending.

These examples illustrate the definition of across-the-board because they all involve a policy or decision that affects everyone or everything in a particular group or category. In the case of a pay raise, it would apply to all employees regardless of their job title or performance. In the case of a smoking ban, it would apply to all public places, not just certain ones. And in the case of a spending reduction, it would apply to all government programs and departments, not just a select few.