pervasive

[ per-vey-siv ]

adjective

1. spread throughout:

   The corruption is so pervasive that it is accepted as the way to do business.

pervasive

/ pɜːˈveɪsɪv /

adjective

1. pervading or tending to pervade

Derived Forms

• perˈvasively, adverb
• perˈvasiveness, noun

Other Words From

• per·va·sive·ly adverb
• per·va·sive·ness noun
• in·ter·per·va·sive adjective
• in·ter·per·va·sive·ly adverb
• non·per·va·sive adjective
• non·per·va·sive·ly adverb
• un·per·va·sive adjective
• un·per·va·sive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervasive¹

First recorded in 1730–40; equivalent to Latin pervās(us), past participle of pervādere “to pass through” + -ive ( def ); pervade ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervasive¹

C18: from Latin pervāsus, past participle of pervādere to pervade

Example Sentences

That will mean pervasive discounting with a side of free shipping to coax shoppers to buy.

From Search Engine Land

While the beer brand isn’t the only big advertisers in esports, it is one of the more pervasive.

From Digiday

For now, I’ll say that this was a big exercise in how a great story can become so pervasive that it seems true.

From Popular-Science

Often this magazine’s approach was quite pointed, as when it criticized President Lyndon Johnson for failing to act on the 1968 Kerner Commission’s finding that pervasive racism fueled civil disorder.

From Science News

The few tools that previously existed tend to measure overt gender bias like harassment, rather than the subtle ones that are so pervasive.

From No Straight News

Pervasive monitoring would also undermine the privacy of user communications.

From The Daily Beast

Pervasive odors of ripening vine, Fill the air like a luscious wine.

From Project Gutenberg

Pervasive drug use among students creates a climate in the schools that is destructive to learning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• common
• inescapable
• omnipresent
• prevalent
• rife
• ubiquitous
• universal