Prevalent: meaning, definitions and examples

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prevalent

 

[ ˈprɛvələnt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in society

Widespread in a particular area at a particular time. Prevalent refers to something that is common or widespread in a particular society or area.

Synonyms

common, rampant, widespread

Examples of usage

  • Obesity is prevalent in Western countries.
  • Violence is prevalent in some urban areas.
  • The flu virus is prevalent during the winter months.
Context #2 | Adjective

in research

Existing or most commonly encountered in a particular field of study. Prevalent refers to something that is dominant or most commonly found in a specific research area.

Synonyms

dominant, most common, predominant

Examples of usage

  • This theory is prevalent in psychology research.
  • Prevalent themes in literature often reflect societal issues.
  • Prevalent methodologies in biology research have evolved over time.

Translations

Translations of the word "prevalent" in other languages:

🇵🇹 prevalente

🇮🇳 प्रचलित

🇩🇪 verbreitet

🇮🇩 umum

🇺🇦 поширений

🇵🇱 powszechny

🇯🇵 一般的

🇫🇷 répandu

🇪🇸 prevalente

🇹🇷 yaygın

🇰🇷 널리 퍼진

🇸🇦 سائد

🇨🇿 rozšířený

🇸🇰 rozšírený

🇨🇳 普遍的

🇸🇮 razširjen

🇮🇸 útbreiddur

🇰🇿 кең таралған

🇬🇪 გავრცელებული

🇦🇿 geniş yayılmış

🇲🇽 prevalente

Word origin

The word 'prevalent' comes from the Latin word 'praevalent-' meaning 'having superior force'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over time, 'prevalent' has been used to describe things that are widespread, dominant, or common in various contexts.

See also: prevail, prevailing, prevalence.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,088 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.