proliferation

American  

[pruh-lif-uh-rey-shuhn] / prəˌlɪf əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the growth or production of cells by multiplication of parts.

2. a rapid and often excessive spread or increase.

   nuclear proliferation.

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Etymology

Origin of proliferation

First recorded in 1855–60; proliferate + -ion

Example Sentences

These changes were accompanied by inflammation, DNA damage, and increased cell proliferation.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

Retail leasing by service-oriented tenants outpaced goods-based retail leasing for the first time ever, a reversal driven in large part by a proliferation of salons, spas and fitness studios.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

A big part of that stigma, Ambrose believes, is the unfortunate proliferation of associating breast cancer with the color pink.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Prapas Sornchaidee, of the Thai Air Force, said Cambodia -- which has pledged to stamp out scam operations before May -- should cop to their proliferation and elicit international support to combat them.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

It signaled the commencement of their almost delirious proliferation.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols