one-size-fits-all

[wuhn-sahyz-fits-awl]

adjective

1. (of clothing) designed to fit people of a wide range of sizes.

2. Informal.,  acceptable or used for a wide variety of purposes or circumstances; appealing or suitable to a variety of tastes.

one-size-fits-all

adjective

1. relating to policies or approaches that are standard and not tailored to individual needs

Word History and Origins

Origin of one-size-fits-all¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

City Council passed a resolution opposing SB 79, calling it “chaos” and a “one-size-fits-all mandate.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Sacramento keeps passing one-size-fits-all land use bills with political carve-outs to get votes,” she said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

The report recommends that the regulations move away from a “one-size-fits-all approach,” allow for an appeals process and exempt “healthy, hydrated and well maintained vegetation ... not likely to be ignited by embers,” as well as protected native trees and shrubs, historic and heritage trees and living municipal street trees if well-pruned and maintained.

From Los Angeles Times

Grijalva objects to what he calls the “one-size-fits-all approach” of the proposed regulations because they don’t recognize differences between houses constructed before 2008 and those built after.

From Los Angeles Times

Councilmember Traci Park, who co-authored the resolution with Councilmember John Lee, called SB 79 a “one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento.”

From Los Angeles Times