prevalent

prevalent — adjective

1. very common within a certain location, community, or era — used especially for c

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

very common within a certain location, community, or era — used especially for conditions, beliefs, or practices that many people experience or are aware of.

Example

A recent health survey in Taiwan found heart disease more prevalent among people over sixty.

prevalent among [group]

Solar power has become prevalent in rural communities across the Philippines.

prevalent in [location]

Common collocations
  • prevalent among
  • prevalent in
  • increasingly prevalent
  • most prevalent
  • especially prevalent
  • particularly prevalent
  • prevalent attitude
  • prevalent belief
  • prevalent practice
  • prevalent disease
Synonyms
  • common

    more general and informal; the everyday word for something that happens or exists often

  • widespread

    very similar in meaning to prevalent but slightly less formal; emphasises the large area affected

  • rampant

    implies uncontrolled or rapid spread, usually of something negative like disease or crime

  • pervasive

    suggests something spreads throughout every part of something, often used for ideas, smells, or influences

Antonyms
  • rare

    the opposite of common; something that does not happen often or exist in large numbers

  • uncommon

    slightly less strong than rare; not frequently seen or experienced

Grammar Patterns

be prevalent among [group]

be prevalent in [place]

prevalent + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

More formal than 'common' or 'widespread'. Frequently used in academic, medical, or social-science writing to describe patterns of disease, belief, or behaviour across a population. The noun form is 'prevalence'.

Common Mistakes

This song is very prevalent right now.
This song is very popular right now.
'Prevalent' describes widespread presence, not public approval.
The prevalent player scored the winning goal.
The dominant player scored the winning goal.
'Prevalent' does not mean 'strongest' or 'most important'; it means 'most common'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that exists in many places or affects many people, but they differ in connotation and register. 'Common' is the most general and neutral word — it fits both formal and everyday contexts ('a common cold', 'it's common to feel nervous'). 'Widespread' emphasises the large physical or social area something covers ('widespread flooding', 'widespread support'). 'Prevalent' overlaps with 'widespread' but is more formal and is typical in academic or medical writing ('prevalent among older adults'). 'Rampant' adds a sense of uncontrolled or excessive spread and almost always carries a negative tone, used for crime, disease, or corruption ('rampant inflation'). 'Pervasive' suggests that something has spread so thoroughly it is felt everywhere at once, often for intangible things such as ideas, smells, or cultural attitudes ('pervasive sense of anxiety'). In everyday conversation, use 'common'; in formal reports, 'prevalent' or 'widespread'; for negative spread, choose 'rampant'; for all-encompassing presence, choose 'pervasive'.

common ↗widespread ↗rampantpervasive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be prevalent among
  • be prevalent in
  • become prevalent
  • remain prevalent

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'praevalentem' (having greater power), the present participle of 'praevalere' (to be stronger or more influential). This was formed by combining 'prae-' (before) and 'valere' (to be strong). The original Latin meaning was about having superior strength or influence. Over time the sense shifted to describe what is most common or widespread — that which 'prevails' in a place or period. The word entered English in the 1400s through French.