adjective

prevalent

PREV-uh-lunt/ˈprevələnt/

Commonly found or occurring.

Dandelions are prevalent throughout the lawn.

Yellow dandelions are widespread throughout a small lawn, appearing across the foreground, middle distance, and far edge rather than in one isolated clump.

Etymology

“Before” and “be strong” underlie the original sense “having superior power,” hence “controlling” or “ruling.” The meaning shifted from dominance in power to widespread presence or general use.

In context

AsapSCIENCE2:05

breast augmentation surgeries are the most prevalent form of plastic surgery, with 300,000 surgeries being performed in 2014...in America alone.

The Science of Boobs

More examples

That spelling was prevalent in older documents.
The study measured how prevalent the condition was.
A prevalent belief can still be mistaken.

Forms

prevalent · more prevalent · most prevalent

prevalence noun — how widespread something is

Similar words

common: Common means frequently encountered; prevalent stresses widespread presence within a place or period.
dominant: Dominant means most influential or powerful; prevalent means widespread, without necessarily having power.