prevalent
7 synonyms and 1 antonym for prevalent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Widespread or common, especially at a given time or in a given place.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use prevalent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
increasingly prevalent
prevalent among
a prevalent belief
Etymology
From Latin praevalens, related to praevalere ("to be superior, to prevail").
Full origin of prevalent →Frequently asked questions
What does “prevalent” mean?
The word “prevalent” means widespread or common, especially at a given time or in a given place. In plain terms, how common or widespread something is.
How do you pronounce “prevalent”?
“Prevalent” is pronounced PREH-vuh-luhnt (/ˈpɹɛvələnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “prevalent” in a sentence?
Here is “prevalent” used in a sentence: “Cycling to work has become far more prevalent in the city over the last decade.”
What is another word for “prevalent”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prevalent” include rife.
What part of speech is “prevalent”?
“Prevalent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prevalent” come from?
The word “prevalent” comes from Latin. From Latin praevalens, related to praevalere ("to be superior, to prevail").
Is “prevalent” a common word?
“Prevalent” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between prevalent and common?
Prevalent and common are close synonyms, both meaning widespread, but prevalent often emphasizes how dominant or frequent something is at a particular time or place, while common is a more general, everyday term for anything frequently occurring.
How is prevalent used in medical or scientific writing?
In medical and scientific contexts, prevalent often describes how widespread a disease, condition, or trait is within a population, as in a prevalent illness in a certain region.
Is prevalent a formal word?
Yes, prevalent tends to sound more formal or technical than everyday alternatives like common or widespread, and it appears frequently in academic, scientific, and journalistic writing.
