English Meaning & Definitions
The fact or condition of being widespread, common, or regularly occurring, especially in a given area or at a particular time.
- “The high prevalence of smoking in the region prompted a new public health campaign.”
- “Researchers are studying the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders among young adults.”
In epidemiology and statistics, the total number of cases of a specific disease or condition present in a given population at a specific time.
- “The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen significantly over the past three decades.”
- “Data on the prevalence of the virus helped hospitals allocate resources efficiently.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “prevalence”.
Derived from the Late Latin 'praevalentia', from Latin 'praevalent-' (meaning 'having great power' or 'prevailing'), formed from the verb 'praevalere' (from 'prae-' meaning 'before' or 'exceeding' + 'valere' meaning 'to be strong or have worth'). It entered the English language in the late 16th century, initially denoting superiority of power or influence, before shifting toward its modern statistical and epidemiological sense of frequency or widespread occurrence.
Think of 'prevail' inside 'prevalence': something that prevails (wins or is widespread) has high prevalence.
Frequently Asked Questions About “prevalence”
1. What is the meaning of “prevalence” in English?
In English, prevalence (noun) is defined as: “The fact or condition of being widespread, common, or regularly occurring, especially in a given area or at a particular time.”.
2. How do you use “prevalence” in a sentence?
“The high prevalence of smoking in the region prompted a new public health campaign.”
3. What are English synonyms of “prevalence”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “prevalence”?
Derived from the Late Latin 'praevalentia', from Latin 'praevalent-' (meaning 'having great power' or 'prevailing'), formed from the verb 'praevalere' (from 'prae-' meaning 'before' or 'exceeding' + 'valere' meaning 'to be strong or have worth'). It entered the English language in the late 16th century, initially denoting superiority of power or influence, before shifting toward its modern statistical and epidemiological sense of frequency or widespread occurrence.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.