Simple Definition of rife

from our Learner's Dictionary

rife

adjective

not used before a noun
: very common and often bad or unpleasant
She visited a country where malaria was rife. [=widespread]
Speculation about who would be fired ran rife for weeks.

Cite this Entry

“Rife.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/rife. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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