The law broken by widespread group of countries (12)
I believe the answer is:
commonwealth
'group of countries' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'the law broken by widespread' is the wordplay.
'broken' indicates an anagram.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'widespread' becomes 'common' (I've seen this before).
'the'+'law'='thelaw'
'thelaw' anagrammed gives 'wealth'.
'wealth' after 'common' is 'COMMONWEALTH'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for commonwealth that I've seen before include "Period following the English Civil Wars" , "Australia, say" , "Successor to Empire" , "protectorate" , "such as Virginia" .)