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
Examples of prevalence in a Sentence
the prevalence of rumors when hard information is withheld from the public
Recent Examples on the Web
Sweden became the first country in the world to reach smoke-free status in 2024 (defined as under 5% smoking prevalence).
—
Markus Lindblad, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Scoring for the loans favors disadvantaged census tracks and prioritizes projects with the greatest public health impact and need, including a prevalence of schools, hospitals and senior communities.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
On the other hand, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino and Indian older adults have higher prevalences of self-care disability.
—Claire Wang, NBC news, 11 June 2025
The global village coffeehouse interior design trend, now dubbed online as an aesthetic or ambiance, was a style that emerged and gained prevalence from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevalence
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Markus Lindblad, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Scoring for the loans favors disadvantaged census tracks and prioritizes projects with the greatest public health impact and need, including a prevalence of schools, hospitals and senior communities.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
On the other hand, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino and Indian older adults have higher prevalences of self-care disability.
—Claire Wang, NBC news, 11 June 2025
The global village coffeehouse interior design trend, now dubbed online as an aesthetic or ambiance, was a style that emerged and gained prevalence from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevalence
Cite this Entry
“Prevalence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalence. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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