prevalence

noun

prev·​a·​lence ˈpre-və-lən(t)s 

ˈprev-lən(t)s

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

• frequency
• occurrence
• frequence

Examples of prevalence in a Sentence

the prevalence of rumors when hard information is withheld from the public

Recent Examples on the Web

In schools and universities, sales of old-fashioned blue books are booming, partly in response to the growing prevalence of students using large language models like ChatGPT to complete their coursework. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026

Try this instead The prevalence of vaguebooking also speaks to the breakdown of communication skills more broadly. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

The idea is that this process can help reduce the prevalence of conditions correlated with low calcium intake, including rickets in children and preeclampsia in pregnant women. —Anthea Levi, Health, 28 Apr. 2026

The prevalence of sports betting has led to more concerns that betting is addictive in ways that pose significant harms. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prevalence

• benevolence
• malevolence
• seroprevalence

Kids Definition

prevalence

noun

prev·​a·​lence ˈprev(-ə)-lən(t)s 

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 

: the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time compare incidence sense 2b