Prevalent means widespread or commonly found. When something is prevalent, you see it often or it affects many people. A prevalent belief is one that lots of people share. A prevalent disease is one that many people have.

If backpacks with wheels become prevalent at your school, you'll notice them everywhere in the hallways. If complaining becomes prevalent on your soccer team, you'll hear players griping constantly instead of encouraging each other. Scientists might study which animals are prevalent in a forest, meaning which ones they encounter most frequently.

The word suggests that something has really taken hold or spread widely. You might see one or two kids wearing a certain brand of shoes, but when half the class shows up in them, that brand has become prevalent.

Weather forecasters talk about prevalent conditions, like when fog is prevalent along the coast. Doctors track prevalent health issues in communities. The word helps us describe patterns we notice when something appears again and again, not just occasionally. When you spot a trend that's everywhere you look, that's when prevalent is the right word to reach for.