prevalence

noun

prev·​a·​lence ˈpre-və-lən(t)s How to pronounce prevalence (audio)
ˈprev-lən(t)s
Synonyms of prevalence
1
: the quality or state of being prevalent
2
: the degree to which something is prevalent
especially : the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time

Synonyms of prevalence

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Examples of prevalence in a Sentence

the prevalence of rumors when hard information is withheld from the public
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
El Niño is likely to exacerbate the impact of torrential rains in neighboring Ghana that have damaged crops and increased the prevalence of the plant-killing black pod disease. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Consumer advocacy organizations have documented the prevalence of fees added at the rental counter across the car rental sector broadly, and the issue predates aggregator platforms. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Earlier studies have estimated similar prevalence of CTE among professional football players. — Emily Harrison, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 The prevalence of tech firms as hotspots for talent signals a wider boom amid Australia’s startup scene, which in recent years has been attracting attention and investments from venture capitalists. — Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prevalence

Word History

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prevalence was in 1682

Rhymes for prevalence

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Browse Nearby Words

Préval
prevalence
prevalent
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Cite this Entry

“Prevalence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalence. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prevalence

noun
prev·​a·​lence ˈprev(-ə)-lən(t)s How to pronounce prevalence (audio)
1
: the state of being prevalent
2
: the degree to which something is prevalent
especially : the part of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time

Medical Definition

prevalence

noun
prev·​a·​lence ˈprev(-ə)-lən(t)s How to pronounce prevalence (audio)
: the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time compare incidence sense 2b

More from Merriam-Webster on prevalence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prevalence

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