word
Bandwidth
Personal or organizational capacity โ borrowed from network throughput.
Origin
In telecommunications, bandwidth measures how much data a channel can carry per second. The metaphorical use โ 'I don't have the bandwidth' โ took off in tech offices in the 2000s and quickly spread to general professional speech.
Modern usage
The polite way to say no in modern professional life. 'No bandwidth right now' has displaced 'I'm too busy' as a status marker โ it implies your queue is fuller, not that you're slower.
In the wild
I'd love to help, I just don't have the bandwidth this week.โ office usage
Tags
capacity
tech
workplace