prevalent

Widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted, or practiced. synonym: prevailing.

Of such a character as to prevail; superior in power or might; controlling; ruling.

Influential; possessed of moral weight or authority.

Effective; efficacious; productive of results, particularly of results desired.

Wide-spread; current; of wide extent, occurrence, practice, or acceptance: as, a prevalent belief; a prevalent custom.

Synonyms and Prevalent, Prevailing, Predominant, Ruling. Ruling in this connection refers to moral ascendancy: as, a ruling fashion set by a reigning belle. Prevalent and prevailing are sometimes the same, and in two senses, that of exceeding in strength, as the prevalent (or prevailing) opinion was against action, and that of existing widely, as scarlet fever is a prevalent (or prevailing) distemper. The habitual is more likely to be expressed by prevalent; the present or actual, sometimes the temporary, by prevailing: as, the prevailing fashion. The words are weaker and less exact than ruling; predominant is the strongest of all. Predominant implies activity, and actual or figurative effort after leadership on the part of that which is predominated over: as, a predominant faction; a predominant opinion is one that seems to put down all others.

Common, Prevalent, etc. See common.

Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious.

Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing

Widespread or preferred.