Synonyms

prevalence

American

[prev-uh-luhns] / ˈprɛv ə ləns /

Rarely prevalentness

noun

the condition of being prevalent, or widespread.

The study examines the prevalence of profanity in video games.
the degree to which something is prevalent or widespread, especially a disease, disorder, or pathogen.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide.

Usage

What does prevalence mean? Prevalence is the state or condition of being widespread or in general use or acceptance.Prevalence is the noun form of the adjective prevalent, meaning widespread, common, or extensive.In the context of medicine, prevalence refers to how widespread a disease is—specifically, the total number of cases in a population at a given time.Example: The prevalence of social media use among teens is often linked to the rise in mental health issues like anxiety.

Other Word Forms

nonprevalence noun

Etymology

Origin of prevalence

First recorded in 1600–10; from French prévalence, from Latin praevalēntia, from praevalent-, stem of praevalēns (present participle of praevalēre “to be more able”) + -ia -y ³ ( def. ); prevail ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was the first time the ONS had given an estimate of the combined prevalence of the three crimes, after being asked by the Home Office to help monitor the government's ambition.

From BBC

The prevalence of more severe cases actually has declined in recent years, according to a study from Rutgers.

From Los Angeles Times

The 1995 song — which has long been a staple on party dance floors — has crossed over into international fame thanks to its prevalence on social media and the overall increased visibility of Latinos.

From Los Angeles Times

It has also fed into broader security concerns across Europe about the growing prevalence of Chinese-made equipment in the region’s energy and telecommunications infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal

She also warns that because chronic kidney disease is often not tested for, its true global prevalence may be even higher than the study suggests.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023