noun
prevalence
PREV-uh-luhns
Prevalence (noun) means How common or widespread something is in a particular place or group. Example: “The survey found a high prevalence of second jobs among nurses.”
noun
1
How common or widespread something is in a particular place or group.
"The survey found a high prevalence of second jobs among nurses."
"Cheap flights explain the prevalence of weekend city breaks."
2
In epidemiology, the proportion of a population that has a given condition at a particular point or over a stated period, counting existing cases as well as new ones.
"Diabetes prevalence in the region has risen to nine per cent."
"Lifetime prevalence of the disorder is estimated at one in fifty."
How to use prevalence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow common something is.
When to use it
Slightly formal in general use; a precisely defined technical term in medicine and public health.
Memory tip
Prevalence answers 'how many people have it?'; incidence answers 'how many people got it this year?'
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
high prevalence
prevalence rate
point prevalence
lifetime prevalence
prevalence of obesity
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The survey found a high _____ of second jobs among nurses.
Etymology
From Latin praevalere meaning 'to have greater power or be stronger', from prae 'before' and valere 'to be strong'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for prevalence
See all rhymes for prevalence →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between prevalence and incidence?
Prevalence counts all existing cases in a population at a given time, new and old together. Incidence counts only new cases arising over a defined period. A long-lasting illness can have low incidence but high prevalence, because cases accumulate rather than resolve.
What is point prevalence versus period prevalence?
Point prevalence measures how many people have the condition at one specific moment, like the day of a survey. Period prevalence counts anyone who had it at any time within a window, such as a year, so it is always the larger figure.
How is prevalence calculated?
Divide the number of people with the condition by the total number of people in the population being studied, then express it as a percentage or a rate such as cases per 100,000. Both numbers must come from the same population and the same time frame for the figure to mean anything.
What is the meaning of prevalence?
"prevalence" (noun) means how common or widespread something is in a particular place or group.
