adj
Uncommon
rampant
RAM-puhnt
Rampant (adj) means spreading or occurring widely and without restraint, often in a negative or alarming way. Example: “Corruption was rampant throughout the local government.”
adj
1
Spreading or occurring widely and without restraint, often in a negative or alarming way.
"Corruption was rampant throughout the local government."
"Rumours ran rampant across the office within minutes."
2
In heraldry, depicted standing upright on the hind legs with the forelegs raised, as of an animal on a coat of arms.
"The family crest showed a lion rampant in gold."
How to use rampant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpreading unchecked and widely, especially something undesirable like a disease, rumour, or crime.
Common pairings
rampant inflation
rampant crime
run rampant
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more rampant
- Superlative
- most rampant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Corruption was _____ throughout the local government.
Etymology
From Old French rampant, present participle of ramper, "to climb or creep" — originally used in heraldry to describe an animal reared up on its hind legs.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “rampant” mean?
The word “rampant” means spreading or occurring widely and without restraint, often in a negative or alarming way. In plain terms, spreading unchecked and widely, especially something undesirable like a disease, rumour, or crime.
How do you pronounce “rampant”?
“Rampant” is pronounced RAM-puhnt (/ˈɹæm.pənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “rampant” in a sentence?
Here is “rampant” used in a sentence: “Corruption was rampant throughout the local government.”
What part of speech is “rampant”?
“Rampant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rampant” come from?
The word “rampant” comes from Old French. From Old French rampant, present participle of ramper, "to climb or creep" — originally used in heraldry to describe an animal reared up on its hind legs.
Is “rampant” a common word?
“Rampant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rampant” have?
“Rampant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: spreading or occurring widely and without restraint, often in a negative or alarming way.
What is the difference between the everyday meaning of rampant and its heraldry meaning?
In everyday use, rampant describes something spreading widely and without restraint, usually in a negative or alarming way, such as rampant crime. In heraldry, rampant is a technical term describing an animal on a coat of arms shown standing upright on its hind legs with the forelegs raised.
What kinds of things are typically described as rampant?
Rampant usually describes negative or alarming things that have spread unchecked, such as crime, disease, corruption, or inflation. The word implies the spread is out of control rather than merely widespread.
Is rampant always a negative word?
In its general sense, rampant is almost always negative, describing a problem that has grown without restraint. Its heraldic sense, describing an animal's pose on a coat of arms, is neutral and purely descriptive.
