prevalent
Americanadjective
-
widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use or acceptance.
- Synonyms:
- common, far-reaching
-
having the superiority or ascendancy.
-
Archaic. effectual or efficacious.
adjective
-
widespread or current
-
superior in force or power; predominant
Usage
What are other ways to say prevalent?
Something that is prevalent is widespread or in general use or acceptance. How is this adjective different from prevailing and current? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prevalent
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin praevalent-, stem of praevalēns “having superior force,” present participle of praevalēre “to be more able, have superior force”; see prevail
Explanation
Something prevalent is common in a particular place at a particular time. Prevalent things are hard to avoid. When you see the word prevalent, think "It's everywhere!" Have you ever noticed how all of a sudden a new word, band, or hairstyle will become super-popular? You may never have seen those things before, and then suddenly they're prevalent. When something is common, it's prevalent. You could say drug use is prevalent among criminals. You could say good study habits are prevalent among good students. If a certain opinion is common, then that's a prevalent view in society.
Vocabulary lists containing prevalent
30 GRE Words Beginning with "P"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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’s been years since her last job hunt, and Carr is learning how difficult the search is now — and how fakes and scammers seem more believable and prevalent.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026
Stigma is "still very much prevalent", says Taiyaba Zeria, who manages dementia support services for the Alzheimer's Society in London.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
"Reducing consumption of UPFs is a complex public health challenge, particularly given how prevalent and accessible these products are," said co-author Timothy De Ver Dye, Ph.D., professor and chair of FAU's Department of Population Health.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
One of the most prevalent challenges for managers and leaders in a modern workplace is the lack of in-sync, face-to-face conversation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Malaria was the most feared and the most prevalent disease in the Amazon.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
