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prevalent
[ prev-uh-luhnt ]
adjective
- widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use or acceptance.
Synonyms: common, far-reaching
- having the superiority or ascendancy.
- Archaic. effectual or efficacious.
prevalent
/ ˈprɛvələnt /
adjective
- widespread or current
- superior in force or power; predominant
Derived Forms
- ˈprevalently, adverb
- ˈprevalence, noun
Other Words From
- preva·lence preva·lent·ness noun
- preva·lent·ly adverb
- non·preva·lent adjective
- non·preva·lent·ly adverb
- un·preva·lent adjective
- un·preva·lent·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of prevalent1
Word History and Origins
Origin of prevalent1
Example Sentences
Reporters at the Press and ProPublica wanted to determine how prevalent these terms are across the state.
The latter is an anti-vaxx belief so prevalent, it led one Wisconsin pharmacist to allegedly tamper with vials of the vaccine.
The takeaway is, this is a variant that’s becoming more prevalent, and we need to lean in and understand more about it.
That number would likely be about sufficient to achieve herd immunity, but vaccine skepticism is much more prevalent among Republicans.
The condition is especially prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
There is another prevalent practice in which family members push the victim to the limit until she kills herself.
Yet the sense is that anti-LGBT hate crimes are becoming more prevalent, and more terrifying.
Rape continues to be prevalent worldwide, particularly in areas of conflict and crisis.
The view remains prevalent that Africans need to be saved from themselves.
Sober and muted colors including shades of gray, one described in a local paper as ‘Battleship,’ were prevalent.
They were sure that the white troops in Meerut would soon arrive and put an end to the prevalent anarchy.
In the town the European mode of living is entirely prevalent—more so than in any other place abroad that I have seen.
Between 10° and 20° South latitude we again met with very peculiar prevalent winds.
It is certainly a lucky thing for travellers that this strange custom is not prevalent everywhere.
Very hot; very limp with the prevalent disease but greatly cheered up by the news of yesterday evening's battle at Helles.
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Related Words
When To Use
What are other ways to say prevalent?
Something that is prevalent is widespread or in general use or acceptance. How is this adjective different from prevailing and current? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
More About Prevalent
What does prevalent mean?
Prevalent means widespread, in general use, or widely accepted.
The noun form of prevalent is prevalence.
Example: Social media use is so prevalent among teens that it’s often linked to the rise in mental health issues like anxiety.
Where does prevalent come from?
The first records of the word prevalent come from around the 1500s. It ultimately derives from the Latin praevalēre, meaning “to have superior strength” or “to prevail.” (The word prevail is also based on this word.)
Prevalent is often used in discussions of how widespread things are, such as in society or within a particular culture. If a belief is described as prevalent, it means it’s widely accepted in general or among a certain group of people. A disease may be described as prevalent in certain areas or in certain groups of people. Certain types of animals are prevalent in certain regions and rare in others. Memes are prevalent on social media. If something is becoming more prevalent, it’s becoming more widespread.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms of prevalent?
- prevalence (noun)
- prevalently (adverb)
What are some synonyms for prevalent?
What are some words that share a root or word element with prevalent?
What are some words that often get used in discussing prevalent?
How is prevalent used in real life?
Fittingly, prevalent is a common word. It’s often used in discussions about widespread cultural phenomena.
Racism continues to be prevalent in our societies.
We must raise our voices against all expressions of racism and instances of racist behaviour. We urgently need to dismantle racist structures and reform racist institutions.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 29, 2020
An increasingly prevalent argument seems to be that ignoring baseless theories — rather than debunking or writing skeptically about them — will prevent them from catching on.
That's fanciful. There is an entire media ecosystem willing to trumpet this stuff credulously.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) May 15, 2020
AI-generated fake videos are becoming more prevalent and convincing. What tools and techniques journalists need to detect fakery? Discover in the latest Conversations with Data newsletter featuring @CraigSilverman & @SamGregory. https://t.co/nSutrOroFE
— European Journalism Centre (@ejcnet) May 31, 2020
Try using prevalent!
Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used to describe something that’s prevalent?
A. widespread
B. common
C. rare
D. ubiquitous
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