rampant

[ ram-puhnt ]

adjective

1. violent in action or spirit; raging; furious:

   a rampant leopard.

2. growing luxuriantly, as weeds.
3. in full sway; prevailing or unchecked:

   a rampant rumor.

   Synonyms: unrestrained, widespread, rife

4. (of an animal) standing on the hind legs; ramping. ramp.
5. Heraldry. (of a beast used as a charge) represented in profile facing the dexter side, with the body upraised and resting on the left hind leg, the tail and other legs elevated, the right foreleg highest, and the head in profile unless otherwise specified:

   a lion rampant.

6. Architecture. (of an arch or vault) springing at one side from one level of support and resting at the other on a higher level.

rampant

/ ˈræmpənt /

adjective

1. unrestrained or violent in behaviour, desire, opinions, etc
2. growing or developing unchecked
3. postpositive heraldry (of a beast) standing on the hind legs, the right foreleg raised above the left
4. (of an arch) having one abutment higher than the other

Derived Forms

• ˈrampancy, noun
• ˈrampantly, adverb

Other Words From

• rampant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rampant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, literally, “creeping, climbing,” present participle of ramper “to creep, crawl, climb”; ramp ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rampant¹

C14: from Old French ramper to crawl, rear; see ramp

Example Sentences

Mail-in ballots — and elections generally — are subject to rampant fraud.

From Washington Post

Over the past week, young Nigerians have ramped up widespread protests—online and offline—against rampant brutality by local police.

From Quartz

It spoke to the fact that there’s a ton of rampant speculation right now bordering on conspiracy theorizing, when the truth is that we don’t really know much.

From Vox

Various Prospect facilities in California have had bedbugs in patient rooms, rampant water leaks from the ceilings and what one hospital manager acknowledged to a state inspector “looks like feces” on the wall.

From ProPublica

Misinformation about voting, the election, and both candidates for the presidency is already rampant on Facebook and every other media platform, and it's being spread by actors both foreign and domestic.

From Ars Technica

With prescription drug abuse rampant in the U.S., New York is taking steps to stop it.

From The Daily Beast

They want to take control of New York City schools away from Mayor Bill de Blasio and let privatization run rampant.

From The Daily Beast

How this will all shake out is a topic of rampant speculation.

From The Daily Beast

When Booker assumed office, his half-a-million constituents were grappling with high unemployment and rampant poverty.

From The Daily Beast

With under-reporting rampant, the real numbers are probably much higher.

From The Daily Beast

And a rampant ache in my head, seconded by a medium-sized gash in the scalp, didn't make for an access of optimism at that moment.

From Project Gutenberg

The tumult and license which usually characterise a general election were more than ordinarily rampant and intolerant.

From Project Gutenberg

It is however but a cheap substitute for authority, and belongs of right to a rampant jingoism of a past age.

From Project Gutenberg

"Tommy Atkins" was the rage for the moment, and what may be called "Absent-minded Beggarism" was rampant.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no evidence before the Government that a widespread conspiracy is rampant in the West of Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• excessive
• flagrant
• growing
• prevalent
• raging
• rife
• runaway
• spreading
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrollable
• unhindered
• unrestrained
• wanton