It comes from the Old English adjective rȳfe and first appeared in written form in the 12th century. Its oldest meaning, still in use today, is synonymous with widespread and prevalent; it's more likely, …

RIFE definition: 1. If something unpleasant is rife, it is very common or happens a lot: 2. full of something…. Learn more.

RIFE definition: of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use. See examples of rife used in a sentence.

1. of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; widespread: Crime is rife in the city. 2. abundant, plentiful, or numerous. 3. abounding (usu. fol. by with).

Definition of rife adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are 24 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word rife, 15 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

3 days ago · rife (comparative rifer, superlative rifest) Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted. Before the plague of London, inflammations of the lungs were rife and mortal.

in widespread existence, activity, or use: Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities. current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty.

Use the adjective rife to mean "full of" or "widespread," especially when you're talking about something negative. If the lifeguard says the water is rife with jellyfish, you're not going to want to swim in it.

If you say that something, usually something bad, is rife in a place or that the place is rife with it, you mean that it is very common. Speculation is rife that he will be sacked. Bribery and corruption were …