prevalent

adjective prev·a·lent \ ˈpre-və-lənt , ˈprev-lənt \

Definition of prevalent

1 archaic :powerful

2 :being in ascendancy :dominant

3 :generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored :widespread

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prevalent

noun

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prevalently

adverb

See prevalent defined for English-language learners

See prevalent defined for kids

Examples of prevalent in a Sentence

Sweden is known as a nation ridden by suicide and alcoholism, but those problems are no more prevalent here than in most European countries. —John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
Teams seem to him better coached, players more skilled, the strategy even more defensive, the opportunities less prevalent, the game less ripe. —Alec Wilkinson, ESPN, 16 Apr. 2001
So prevalent were grave robberies that the pharaohs' loyal retainers often spirited away their masters' remains for reinterment in secret graves. —Paul Martin, National Geographic Traveler, March 1999
Throughout the Mediterranean culture, which was the matrix of our own, the tree was a prevalent embodiment of the Mother Goddess; … —Francis DuPlessix Gray, UTNE Reader, November/December 1987
a custom that was once prevalent here
Those teaching methods are still prevalent at some schools.
a fashion that is prevalent among teenagers

Recent Examples of prevalent from the Web

The parity is especially prevalent in the East, where first-place clubs Louisville City FC and Charlotte Independence (44 points) are 23 points ahead of last-place Toronto FC II (21 points).

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati's Alan Koch: 'This is the exciting time of the season'," 29 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, supplies of heavier crudes -- which are more prevalent in the Middle East -- have shrunk as OPEC nations including Saudi Arabia curb output as part of a deal aimed at propping up prices.

— heesu lee, Bloomberg.com, "Top Oil Buyers Go on Light Crude Diet to Satisfy Diesel Craving," 8 Aug. 2017
Wang believes once an athlete becomes involved in football, or any sport where contact to the head is prevalent, the chance of developing CTE gets its start.

— john altavilla, courant.com, "Study On CTE Has Many Football Coaches, Players Reassessing The Sport," 3 Aug. 2017
Trump’s time in office has highlighted the prevalent power struggle dynamics between genders that are still present within our society.

— ariana marsh, Teen Vogue, "The Graduate Projects of Six British Art Students Were Inspired By Donald Trump," 17 July 2017
Martin once defended the prevalent use of rape in his text to Entertainment Weekly by leaning into the quasi-historical context of his novels: The books reflect a patriarchal society based on the Middle Ages.

— vanityfair.com, "Game of Thrones Season 7 Photos," 16 July 2017
The parasite that causes trichinosis used to be most prevalent in pork, but stricter laws and changes in commercial practices have generally eliminated it there.

— lisa demer, Alaska Dispatch News, "Ten Alaskans were sickened by raw or undercooked walrus. A parasite was in the meat, CDC says.," 14 July 2017
There is none of the flash and glitz so prevalent in China’s far more prosperous cities.

— bill powell, MSNBC Newsweek, "Will Trump Stop the 10 Chinese Companies Supplying North Korea's Nuclear Program?," 13 July 2017
Non-Orthodox streams of Judaism, including the Reform and Conservative denominations that are prevalent in the United States, allow men and women to pray side by side, and female rabbis regularly lead services.

— ruth eglash, Washington Post, "Israeli cabinet reneges on pledge to create egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall," 25 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prevalent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

How Should You Use prevalent?

Many diseases that were prevalent a century ago have been controlled by advances in medicine. Smallpox was prevalent on several continents for many centuries, and when Europeans brought it with them to the Americas, it killed more American Indians than the armed settlers did. But prevalent doesn't just describe diseases. One ideal of male or female beauty may be prevalent in a particular society and quite a different ideal in another. In the 1950s and '60s, there was a prevalent notion that if you went swimming less than an hour after eating you might drown because of stomach cramps—which goes to show that not every prevalent idea is exactly true.