prevalent

A prevalent idea or issue is one that's widely accepted or common in society.

You've probably noticed how some opinions or ideas seem to be all around us. Maybe it's a popular view on social media, or something that politicians and news outlets talk about often. When we say an opinion is "prevalent," we mean it's what most people agree with or think is true. For example, if the idea that humans should take care of the environment is prevalent in your community, it means many people are working towards making their town more eco-friendly.

Prevalent can also be used to describe a disease or health issue that affects many people at the same time. In this case, it's not just about what most people think, but also about how widespread something is in terms of numbers. For instance, if a doctor says influenza is prevalent this season, it means there are lots of cases of the flu going around.

Note: The word "prevalent" can be used as both an adjective and a noun. As a noun, it refers to the state of being widely accepted or common.