What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rife
Example
The city was rife with crime, making it unsafe for residents. [rife: adjective]
Example
Rumors were rife that the company was going bankrupt. [rife: adjective]
prevalent
Example
Obesity is prevalent in many developed countries due to unhealthy diets. [prevalent: adjective]
Example
The flu is prevalent during the winter months. [prevalent: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prevalent is more commonly used than rife in everyday language and formal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rife and prevalent?
Prevalent is more formal than rife and is commonly used in academic or professional writing.
