prevelant

USAGE SUMMARY

"prevalent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is widespread and commonly found, occurring in large numbers. Example sentence: The use of smartphones is now prevalent among people of all ages.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Business

Opinion

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Chamarajanagar, where literacy rates are around 51%, notions of disability being karma related are prevalent.

The Guardian

The blinkered insularity prevalent in England may be gauged from the fact that Frank Coles, the Daily Telegraph correspondent, asked himself how the Hungarians would fare against an English club team fighting for points in midwinter.

The Guardian - Sport

Audiences don't want to see the kind of self-indulgent, boring dance that is so prevalent today.

The Guardian

I believe this is a prevalent view amongst Rangers stakeholders who are now demanding full transparency about the funding of the acquisition of the club, its current financial status and, most importantly, the way forward.

The Guardian - Sport

The report said violence in soaps was "quite prevalent" and occurred in the "large majority of episodes" – nearly eight out of 10 – in 2013.

The Guardian

The writers, who also included Peter Carey and Michael Ondaatje, argued in their letter that the choice of winner was "not simply conveying support for freedom of expression, but also valorising … material that intensifies the anti-Islamic, anti-Maghreb, anti-Arab sentiments already prevalent in the western world".

The Guardian - Books

The latter got to know my long history of weight-loss attempts and about how the problem was prevalent and as yet "uncured" on both sides of my family.

The Guardian - Opinion

It believes that "herding" behaviour – as fund managers charge into the same asset classes simultaneously in order to hit their performance targets – is "prevalent and increasing" – particularly in emerging market assets.

The Guardian - Business

Women were more likely to live at home than men, and it was also more prevalent among black and minority ethnic students, and among students who attended a higher education institution with lower entry criteria.

The Guardian

Women were more likely to live at home, and it was also more prevalent among black and ethnic minority students But she says it is not certain that being at home does narrow their options.

The Guardian

Heart disease is particularly prevalent among working-class men and ethnic minorities.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prevalent" to describe trends, behaviors, or conditions that are widespread and commonly observed. For example, "The use of social media is prevalent among teenagers."

Common error

Avoid using "prevalent" to describe something that is merely present or exists; it should specifically denote widespread occurrence or acceptance. For instance, instead of saying "Corruption is prevalent in this company" without evidence, consider specifying the extent or providing examples.

Linguistic Context

The word "prevalent" functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is widespread, generally accepted, or frequently occurring. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. For instance, "Heart disease is particularly prevalent among working-class men and ethnic minorities."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

The Economist

15%

The Guardian

28%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Prevalent" is a commonly misspelled word, the correct form being "prevalent". It is used as an adjective to describe something that is widespread or frequently occurring, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Examples from The Guardian and The Economist show its application across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to use "prevalent" to accurately reflect widespread occurrence rather than mere existence. Alternatives include "widespread", "common", and "ubiquitous". Ensure correct spelling to maintain credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widespread

Indicates something is found or distributed over a large area or among many people.

common

Refers to something that occurs frequently or is found in abundance.

rampant

Suggests something is spreading uncontrollably or is very common in a negative way.

pervasive

Highlights that something spreads widely throughout an area or group of people.

ubiquitous

Emphasizes that something is present everywhere or is very common.

rife

Indicates that something unpleasant or undesirable is very common or widespread.

prevailing

Describes something that is current or generally accepted.

dominant

Suggests that something is the most common or influential.

customary

Refers to something that is usual or traditional.

habitual

Indicates something is done out of habit or is typical behavior.

FAQs

How do I use "prevalent" in a sentence?

Use "prevalent" to describe something widespread or commonly occurring. For example, "The use of smartphones is "prevalent" among young adults."

What can I say instead of "prevalent"?

You can use alternatives like "widespread", "common", or "ubiquitous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "prevelant" or "prevalent"?

"Prevelant" is a misspelling. The correct word is ""prevalent"", meaning widespread or commonly occurring.

What's the difference between "prevalent" and "common"?

While both indicate frequency, ""prevalent"" suggests a more widespread or dominant presence than ""common"". Something "prevalent" is notably widespread, whereas something "common" is simply frequent.