proliferation

US /pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/ UK /pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #45876

Meanings

1

noun
A rapid increase in the number or spread of something.

The proliferation of smartphones changed how we communicate.
2

noun
The rapid spread of weapons, especially nuclear ones, to more countries.

The treaty aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms proliferations

Derived forms alloproliferationangioproliferationantiproliferationautoproliferationcounterproliferationendoproliferationfibroproliferationhyperproliferationhypoproliferationimmunoproliferationlymphoproliferationmalproliferation

Etymology

Borrowed from French prolifération.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# proliferation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 45876

## Meanings
1. A rapid increase in the number or spread of something.
2. The rapid spread of weapons, especially nuclear ones, to more countries.

## Examples
- The proliferation of smartphones changed how we communicate.
- The treaty aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

## Derived Forms
- alloproliferation
- angioproliferation
- antiproliferation
- autoproliferation
- counterproliferation
- endoproliferation
- fibroproliferation
- hyperproliferation
- hypoproliferation
- immunoproliferation
- lymphoproliferation
- malproliferation

## Etymology
Borrowed from French prolifération.

## AI Etymology
Proliferation is borrowed from French prolifération. Current senses include a rapid increase in the number or spread of something and the rapid spread of weapons, especially nuclear ones, to more countries. The wider family includes derived forms such as alloproliferation, angioproliferation, antiproliferation, autoproliferation, and counterproliferation.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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