Rife: meaning, definitions and examples

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rife

 

[ raษชf ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

general use

Rife means widespread or abundant, especially in a negative sense. It is often used to describe something undesirable that exists in large quantities, such as disease, crime, or corruption.

Synonyms

common, prevalent, ubiquitous, widespread

Examples of usage

  • The city was rife with crime last year.
  • Rumors about the scandal were rife among the employees.
  • The countryside was rife with tourists during the summer.
  • Corruption is rife in many institutions.
  • The region has been rife with political unrest.

Translations

Translations of the word "rife" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น abundante

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅเคฐเคšเฅเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช reichlich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ melimpah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะพัั‚ะฐั‚ะฝั–ะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ obfity

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ฑŠๅฏŒใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท abondant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ abundante

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bol

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ’๋ถ€ํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูˆููŠุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hojnฤ›

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hojnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไธฐๅฏŒ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ obilen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ gnรณtt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะพะปะฐะน

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒฎแƒ•แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bol

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ abundante

Word origin

The word 'rife' is derived from the Old English word 'rifian', which means 'to rise' or 'to be abundant'. It first appeared in Middle English in the 14th century, indicating a sense of abundance or plentifulness. Initially, it had a neutral connotation, describing anything that was plentiful. However, over time, its usage shifted towards a more negative context, often describing undesirable or harmful things that are prevalent. This evolution reflects societal concerns about the proliferation of negative aspects in life, such as crime or disease. The term has been used in literature and journalism to convey the idea that certain adverse conditions are not merely present, but are spread widely, affecting larger groups or areas. Today, 'rife' continues to carry this connotation of being abundant in a negative way.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,039, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.