/ ˈprevələnt; NAmE / adjective
prevalent (among sb) | prevalent (in sb/sth) that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place
SYN common , widespread :
a prevalent view
These prejudices are particularly prevalent among people living in the North.
► preva·lence / -əns; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Latin praevalent- having greater power, from the verb praevalere have greater power, from prae before + valere have power.