ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prevalence

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈpɹɛvəɫəns// UK //pɹˈɛvələns// preva·lence

n. how common or widespread something is in a certain place or group of people. It describes how often you see a specific thing happening right now.

n. the fact or condition of being common or widespread within a particular population or area at a specific time. Often used in medical or sociological contexts to describe the total number of cases of a condition.


SIMPLE

The prevalence of smartphones has changed how we communicate.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers are studying the high prevalence of heart disease in urban areas compared to rural communities.

COMPLEX

Despite the prevalence of digital media, physical book sales have remained remarkably resilient among younger demographics who value the tactile experience of reading.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French prévalence.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the subject being measured.

Pitfall

the prevalence for obesitythe prevalence of obesityPrevalence takes the preposition 'of' to describe the condition or thing that is widespread.

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