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
Researchers distributed email surveys to 80,000 licensed hunters and another 80,000 landowners in the subject states, and over 1,200 active conservation officers were also surveyed in an effort to get a comprehensive view of attitudes about and estimations of the prevalence of poaching.
—
Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Yet, on a global scale, its prevalence is on the decline, while the number of overweight children quadrupled in low-income countries between 2000-2022, according to the report.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
For instance, stomach cancer is more common in East Asia and parts of South America, largely due to diet and infection prevalence.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the CDC has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
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Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Yet, on a global scale, its prevalence is on the decline, while the number of overweight children quadrupled in low-income countries between 2000-2022, according to the report.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
For instance, stomach cancer is more common in East Asia and parts of South America, largely due to diet and infection prevalence.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the CDC has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 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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