# rife

/ˈɹaɪf/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪf/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rife
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

describes something bad or unpleasant that is very common or happens everywhere. You use it when a problem is spreading out of control.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The garden was rife with flowers." but "The garden was full of flowers." — Rife has a negative connotation; it is used for problems, rumors, or diseases, not for pleasant things.

## Usage notes

- Often follows the linking verb 'be' and is frequently followed by the preposition 'with'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.