prevalence
noun
prev·a·lence
ˈpre-və-lən(t)s 
ˈprev-lən(t)s
1
: the quality or state of being prevalent
2
: the degree to which something is prevalent
especially
: the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time
Examples of prevalence in a Sentence
the prevalence of rumors when hard information is withheld from the public
Recent Examples on the Web
Other metrics also suggest the virus is rising, including the prevalence of covid diagnoses in emergency rooms and the rate of tests processed at labs coming back positive, but not to the degree of the winter surge.
—
Lizette Ortega, Washington Post, 18 July 2024
Cancer Risk Caused by Smoking Could Be Slashed by Quitting
Despite considerable declines in smoking prevalence during the past few decades, the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming, says Islami.
—Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 17 July 2024
Asthma rates decreased from 7.84% in 2019 to 7.00% in 2023 while the prevalence of COPD and pneumonia also fell.
—Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 17 July 2024
The prevalence ranked Indiana as 10th in the nation for xylazine-positive samples.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevalence 
Lizette Ortega, Washington Post, 18 July 2024
Cancer Risk Caused by Smoking Could Be Slashed by Quitting
Despite considerable declines in smoking prevalence during the past few decades, the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming, says Islami.
—Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 17 July 2024
Asthma rates decreased from 7.84% in 2019 to 7.00% in 2023 while the prevalence of COPD and pneumonia also fell.
—Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 17 July 2024
The prevalence ranked Indiana as 10th in the nation for xylazine-positive samples.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevalence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prevalence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prevalence
Cite this Entry
“Prevalence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalence. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prevalence
noun
prev·a·lence
ˈprev(-ə)-lən(t)s
1
: the state of being prevalent
2
: the degree to which something is prevalent
especially
: the part of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time
Medical Definition
prevalence
noun
prev·a·lence
ˈprev(-ə)-lən(t)s
: the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time compare incidence sense 2b
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