Rife

Definition

Rife means widespread in a harmful, uncontrolled, or troubling way. Prevalent, by contrast, means widely existing without any negative meaning. Rife focuses on widespread presence that is bad or problematic. Prevalent focuses on frequency in a neutral way.

What it describes

A reporter investigates a government department. She hears rumors of bribery, secret deals, and cover‑ups. She interviews workers who whisper about corruption but are afraid to speak openly. When she finally publishes her findings, she documents dozens of cases where officials took money in exchange for favors. The problem is not just a few bad apples; it is everywhere in the department. What kind of corruption is present in the department? It is rife.

Examples in context

• After the earthquake, rumors were rife about an even larger disaster to come.
• In the early industrial era, child labor was rife in factories.