Word
prevalent
Phoneticspreva·lent
US/ˈpɹɛvəɫənt/
UK/pɹˈɛvələnt/
Definitions
01widespread or common
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. existing commonly or happening often in a particular place or group of people.
adj. widespread or widely prevalent; occurring frequently within a specific context or population.
“The flu is more prevalent during the cold winter months.”
“These beliefs are still prevalent in many rural communities, despite the rapid modernisation of the surrounding urban centres.”
Usage
Often used with 'among' or 'in' to specify the group or location affected.
Synonyms
02dominant or superior
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. having the most power or being the most frequent type in a group.
adj. predominant or superior in force, number, or influence.
“The prevalent opinion among the experts was that the economy would improve.”
“The prevalent winds in this region blow from the west, significantly impacting the local climate and vegetation patterns.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a common species
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a type of plant or animal that is very common in a specific area.
n. an organism or species that is widespread or dominant within a particular ecological niche or geographic territory.
“The oak tree is a prevalent in this part of the forest.”
“Researchers identified the shrub as a prevalent within the coastal ecosystem, noting its role in preventing soil erosion.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun in ecological and biological reporting.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“She investigated the data to assess how prevalent biphasic sleep was among shift workers, what health outcomes were associated with it, and whether a split sleep was better or worse than one exhausted block.” “While there have been Facebook groups and accounts on other major social media sites posting about Ceuta, it was on Instagram where I found the most active and prevalent group of interconnected accounts.” Etymology
From Latin praevalēns. By surface analysis, pre- + -valent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prevalent