French word

rampant

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɑ̃pɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivewidespread

Example

La corruption rampante nuit à la société.

Widespread corruption harms society.

Illustration for rampant (widespread)

More examples

L'insécurité rampante réduit la confiance dans le quartier.

Rampant insecurity reduces trust in the neighborhood.

Core concept

A creeping growth that spreads across available ground until it dominates the scene.

Common phrases

  • insécurité rampante

    rampant insecurity

  • épidémie rampante

    rampant epidemic

Similar words

répandu: Found across a broad area or among many people.
courant: Commonly seen in everyday life.
fréquent: Happening repeatedly or often.
généralisé: Widely practiced or present across many places or groups.

Definition in French

Qui s'étend de façon envahissante ou dominante, surtout lorsqu'il nuit à une situation.

Word origin

Rampant comes from the present participle of French ramper, "to crawl," and developed from crawling movement to uncontrolled spread.

Usage tips

  • In French, rampant agrees with the noun: corruption rampante has feminine -ante, while the masculine form ends in -ant.

Other meanings

  • uncheckedadjective

Opposites

  • contrôlablecontrollableadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word