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 …

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

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

Royal Raymond Rife (May 16, 1888 – August 5, 1971) [1] was an American inventor and early exponent of high-magnification time-lapse cine-micrography. [2][3] Rife is known for his …

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).

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.

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.

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 …

RIFE meaning: 1 : very common and often bad or unpleasant; 2 : having a large amount of (something bad or unpleasant) full of (something bad or unpleasant)