prevailing

prevailing

adjective

Definition of PREVAILING

1

accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the principal disagrees with the prevailing attitude toward corporal punishment>

Synonyms conventional, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual

Related Words average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary; regular, routine; epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread; accustomed, wonted; fashionable, in, modish, stylish

Near Antonyms abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon

Antonyms nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual

2

held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the prevailing custom here is to leave one's doors unlocked>

Synonyms common, majority, overall, popular, prevailing, public, received, ruling, vulgar

Related Words unanimous, universal; pop; everyday, familiar, household, usual, well-known; contemporary, current, present; dominant, predominant, preponderant; characteristic, typical; pandemic, pervasive, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared

Near Antonyms rare, strange, unknown, unusual; distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique; individual, separate, singular; nonpublic, personal, private

Antonyms uncommon, unpopular