pervasive

[per-vey-siv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pervasive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

Related formsper·va·sive·ly, adverbper·va·sive·ness, nounin·ter·per·va·sive, adjectivein·ter·per·va·sive·ly, adverbin·ter·per·va·sive·ness, nounnon·per·va·sive, adjectivenon·per·va·sive·ly, adverbnon·per·va·sive·ness, nounun·per·va·sive, adjectiveun·per·va·sive·ly, adverbun·per·va·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for pervasive

ubiquitous, prevalent, universal, inescapable, rife, omnipresent, common, general, widespread, wall-to-wall

Examples from the Web for pervasive

Contemporary Examples of pervasive

Pervasive monitoring would also undermine the privacy of user communications.
Internet Anti-Piracy Bill Would Chill Free Expression
David Sohn
November 24, 2011

Historical Examples of pervasive

Pervasive drug use among students creates a climate in the schools that is destructive to learning.
What Works: Schools Without Drugs
United States Department of Education
Pervasive odors of ripening vine, Fill the air like a luscious wine.
The Optimist's Good Morning
Florence Hobart Perin

British Dictionary definitions for pervasive

pervasive

adjective

pervading or tending to pervade

Derived Formspervasively, adverbpervasiveness, noun

Word Origin for pervasive

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pervasive

adj.

1750, from Latin pervas-, past participle stem of pervadere (see pervade) + -ive.