pervasive

[per-vey-siv]

adjective

1. spread throughout.

   The corruption is so pervasive that it is accepted as the way to do business.

pervasive

/ pɜːˈveɪsɪv /

adjective

1. pervading or tending to pervade

Other Word Forms

• pervasively adverb
• pervasiveness noun
• interpervasive adjective
• interpervasively adverb
• nonpervasive adjective
• nonpervasively adverb
• unpervasive adjective
• unpervasively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervasive¹

First recorded in 1730–40; equivalent to Latin pervās(us), past participle of pervādere “to pass through” + -ive ( def. ); pervade ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervasive¹

C18: from Latin pervāsus, past participle of pervādere to _pervade

Example Sentences

Last year, the FBI labeled crypto a hive of “pervasive” criminality.

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It probably wasn’t everyone, but it was pervasive and disturbing, and it made an impact on me.

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What follows is a chorus of anecdotes, artworks and historical fragments tracing the pervasive — and sometimes perverted — roots of our everyday technologies.

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The complaint alleges: The company “fostered a pervasive ‘frat boy’ workplace culture that continues to thrive.

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The behaviour was seen "amongst all ranks" but was "not pervasive" across the service, the report said, after a two-year long investigation.

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Related Words

• common 
• inescapable 
• omnipresent 
• prevalent 
• rife 
• ubiquitous 
• universal