Prevalence
/ˈprɛvələns/
Definitions
The state or fact of being common, widespread, or generally accepted.
/ˈprɛvələns/
The fact or condition of being common; widespread occurrence.
The prevalence of smartphones in society is undeniable.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're counting how often something happens. If it happens a lot, we say it has a high 'prevalence'. For example, if many kids love ice cream, we say there's a high prevalence of ice cream loving!
👶 For kids: How often something happens. Like how many kids have a pet dog.
More Examples
Researchers are studying the prevalence of misinformation online.
The high prevalence of influenza during the winter months is a concern.
How It's Used
"The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide."
"The prevalence of social media has changed how people communicate."
"Studies show the prevalence of smoking among teenagers has decreased."
From Middle French *prévalence* (14th century), from Late Latin *praevalentia*, from *praevalēre* ('to be more powerful').
The word has been used since the 14th century. Early usage often related to power and influence but later shifted to indicate the commonness of things.
Memory tip
Think of 'pre-val-ence' as 'pre-value', something that is widely valued or found.