Prevalence Definition, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：widespread occurrence (prevalence)

prevalence 🔊

/ˈprɛvələns/

It means that something is very common or found in many places or among many people.

Prevalence illustrated by blue house icons scattered across a city map

widespread occurrence 🔊

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/ˈwaɪdˌspred əˈkɜːrəns/

The state or fact of being widespread or commonly encountered in many places or among many people.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Pre- (before) + val (strong) + -ence (noun suffix) => being stronger than others, hence widespread.

💡 Mnemonic

Prevalence: 'Pre' (before) + 'valence' (value) – something that comes before others in value because it's common everywhere.

📖 Example

The prevalence of mobile payment apps has made carrying cash almost unnecessary in many cities. 🔊 The prevalence of mobile payment apps has made carrying cash almost unnecessary in many cities.

🔗 Collocations

high prevalence – the state of being very common

increasing prevalence – the process of becoming more widespread

prevalence of – the commonness of a particular thing

🔄 Synonyms

commonness (n.) – the quality of being usual or widespread

widespreadness (n.) – the state of existing over a large area or among many people

ubiquity (n.) – the fact of appearing everywhere or being very common

🚫 Antonyms

rarity (n.) – the state of being rare or infrequent

uncommonness (n.) – the quality of not being common

scarcity (n.) – the state of being insufficient or hard to find

🌱 Derivatives

prevalent (adj.) – widespread in a particular area or among a particular group

prevalently (adv.) – in a widespread manner

prevalentness (n.) – the quality of being prevalent (rare)

📖 Cultural Story

From Latin 'praevalentia' meaning 'superiority, strength', derived from 'praevalere' (to be stronger). Entered English in the 16th century, evolving from 'having superior power' to 'being common'.