Word: prevalent

Associations

"Prevalent" means something that is widespread or commonly found. It suggests that the thing being described is noticeable in a particular area or among a specific group of people.

• Example 1: "Obesity is prevalent in many countries today." This means that many people in those countries are dealing with obesity.
• Example 2: "Social media is prevalent among teenagers." Here, it indicates that many teenagers use social media.
• Example 3: "Flu season is prevalent at this time of year." This shows that many people are getting the flu during this period.

The synonym "common" can be used, but "prevalent" implies a stronger degree of widespread occurrence or acceptance, often with a suggestion of being noteworthy or significant.

Substitution

Other words that can be used instead of "prevalent" include:

• "Widespread" – This is similar and emphasizes large scale.
• "Dominant" – This suggests a strong or controlling presence, which can imply not just occurrence but influence as well.
• "Frequent" – This focuses more on how often something happens rather than how widespread it is.

Each substitute changes the meaning slightly; for example, "widespread" suggests a broad reach, while "dominant" suggests control or superiority.

Deconstruction

The word "prevalent" comes from the Latin root "praevalent," which consists of "prae-" meaning "before" or "in front of" and "valere," meaning "to be strong" or "to be worth." So, it can be understood as something that stands out strongly in its environment.

The word has been used in English since the late 14th century, often to describe things that are notably common or influential in society or culture.

Inquiry

• In what situations do you notice something that is prevalent in your school or community?
• Can you think of a time when you recognized something as being prevalent but might not have been aware of its significance before?
• How does recognizing something as prevalent change your perspective on it?