Part of Speech

Prevalency is a noun.

Phonetic Transcription

/pɹɛˈvælənti/

Meaning and Use

Prevalency refers to the state of being prevalent or widespread. It describes the degree to which something is common or frequently encountered in a particular area or among a certain group. The term is often used in contexts regarding health, social phenomena, and trends.

The frequency of use for the word is moderate; it is more common in written contexts, especially in academic, medical, and social science literature. In oral speech, more common alternatives like "prevalence" are often used.

Example Sentences

1. The prevalency of obesity in children has become a major public health concern.

2. La prevalencia de la obesidad en los niños se ha convertido en una gran preocupación para la salud pública.

3. Researchers studied the prevalency of various diseases in urban areas.

4. Los investigadores estudiaron la prevalencia de diversas enfermedades en áreas urbanas.

5. The prevalency of smartphone usage has transformed how we communicate.

6. La prevalencia del uso de teléfonos inteligentes ha transformado la forma en que nos comunicamos.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "prevalency" itself is not commonly found in idiomatic expressions, its related term "prevalence" does appear in certain contexts. Here are some idiomatic expressions incorporating the concept of prevalence:

1. "To be prevalent in society"
2. The stigma against mental health issues is still prevalent in society.

3. El estigma contra los problemas de salud mental aún es prevalente en la sociedad.

4. "To prevail over"

5. The new policy aims to prevail over outdated practices in the industry.

6. La nueva política tiene como objetivo prevalecer sobre las prácticas obsoletas en la industria.

7. "Prevalent themes"

8. The prevalent themes in modern literature often revolve around identity and belonging.

9. Los temas prevalentes en la literatura moderna a menudo giran en torno a la identidad y la pertenencia.

10. "Prevailing attitude"

11. The prevailing attitude towards climate change is gradually shifting towards urgency.
12. La actitud prevalente hacia el cambio climático está cambiando gradualmente hacia la urgencia.

Etymology

The term prevalency is derived from the combination of "prevalent," which comes from the Latin root "praevalens," meaning "to be superior," from "prae-" (before) and "valere" (to be strong). The suffix "-cy" indicates a state or condition. The term "prevalence" is more commonly used in modern English.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: commonness, widespreadness, frequency, occurrence, prevalence.
Antonyms: rarity, infrequency, uncommonly, scarcity.