Prevalent

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɛvələnt/

Definitions

1. Commonly occurring or widely recognized within a specified population or locale
2. Frequently encountered or generally observed in various situations or among certain groups
3. Existing or found extensively in a particular area or among many people

Etymology: "Prevalent" comes from Latin "praevalēns," the present participle of "praevalēre," meaning "to prevail, be stronger, or have greater power." The Latin verb was built from "prae," meaning "before" or "above," and "valēre," meaning "to be strong," so the word's core idea is one thing gaining the upper hand over others. English took the word on its way to meaning "widespread," which is why a prevalent custom is one that has overpowered its rivals across a community. The English adjective keeps that sense of dominance. Something prevalent is not merely present but has spread through a group or place until it stands out, whether that is a disease in a region or a fashion among a set of friends. The "pre-" in the English word is a reminder that the Latin prefix did not mean "previous" here; it meant "more" or "over," so the word has always been about superiority in strength rather than arrival in time.

Synonyms: widespread, common, ubiquitous

Antonyms: rare, uncommon