adj
C2
Proficient
rife
ryf
Rife (adj) means Widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant. Example: “Rumours were rife in the office after the announcement.”
adj
1
Widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant.
"Rumours were rife in the office after the announcement."
"Corruption was rife in the old regime."
2
Full of something, typically undesirable things.
"The abandoned building was rife with mould and rot."
How to use rife
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery common or widespread — almost always describing something bad, like rumours, disease, or corruption.
Common mistake
Rife is normally followed by "with" (rife with problems), not "of" or "in".
Common pairings
rife with rumours
speculation is rife
rife with corruption
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Word forms
- Comparative
- rifer, more rife
- Superlative
- rifest, most rife
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rumours were _____ in the office after the announcement.
Etymology
From Old English rīfe (\"abundant, frequent\"), related to Dutch rijf (\"abundant\").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rife
See all rhymes for rife →Frequently asked questions
What does “rife” mean?
The word “rife” means widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant. In plain terms, very common or widespread — almost always describing something bad, like rumours, disease, or corruption.
How do you pronounce “rife”?
“Rife” is pronounced ryf (/ɹaɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “rife” in a sentence?
Here is “rife” used in a sentence: “Rumours were rife in the office after the announcement.”
What is another word for “rife”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rife” include ubiquitous.
What part of speech is “rife”?
“Rife” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rife” come from?
The word “rife” comes from Old English. From Old English rīfe (\"abundant, frequent\"), related to Dutch rijf (\"abundant\").
How many meanings does “rife” have?
“Rife” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant.
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