Final answer:
A network that spans a large geographic area, like a state or country, is known as a Wide Area network (WAN). This type of network is used to connect different locations over long distances, unlike LANs, MANs, and PANs which have more localized uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
A network that covers a large geographic distance, such as a state or a country, is considered a Wide Area network. This is often shortened to WAN. WANs are expansive systems that facilitate communication and resource sharing across large distances, typically outside the scope of a single building or campus. For example, multinational corporations use WANs to connect their offices around the world, allowing them to share data, services, and applications across their global network. In contrast, Local Area Networks (LANs) are confined to a small area such as an office or building, Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) typically cover a city or a campus, and Personal Area Networks (PANs) are intended for an individual's personal devices within a very limited range.