Word
rife
US/ˈɹaɪf/
UK/ɹˈaɪf/
Definition
adj. describes something bad or unpleasant that is very common or happens everywhere. You use it when a problem is spreading out of control.
adj. describing the widespread or prevalent occurrence of something undesirable. Often used predicatively with the preposition 'with' to indicate being full of something harmful.
Examples
“The city's government is rife with corruption.”
“Speculation about the company's potential bankruptcy was rife among investors after the CEO suddenly resigned.”
“The historical manuscript was rife with errors, suggesting that the scribe had been working in haste or lacked the necessary linguistic training to transcribe the original text accurately.”
Examples
simple
“The city's government is rife with corruption.”
contextual
“Speculation about the company's potential bankruptcy was rife among investors after the CEO suddenly resigned.”
complex
“The historical manuscript was rife with errors, suggesting that the scribe had been working in haste or lacked the necessary linguistic training to transcribe the original text accurately.”
Usage
Often follows the linking verb 'be' and is frequently followed by the preposition 'with'.
Pitfall
The garden was rife with flowers.
The garden was full of flowers.
Rife has a negative connotation; it is used for problems, rumors, or diseases, not for pleasant things.
Real-World Examples
“Concern over the security of Europe's largest nuclear plant has been rife since Russia launched its full-scale war.” “The hit TV show confirms that sports lore is rife with powerful hexes.” Etymology
From Middle English rife, from Old English rīfe, rȳfe (“rife, abundant, frequent”), from Proto-West Germanic rīb, from Proto-Germanic rībaz (“generous”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- (“to tear (off), rip”). Cognate with West Frisian rju (“rife, much”), Dutch rijf (“abundant, copious”), Low German rive (“abundant, munificent”), Icelandic rífur (“rife, munificent”), Faroese ríviligur (“plentiful, abundant”), Faroese rívan (“abundantly”), Icelandic reifa (“to bestow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/rife