universal

American  

[yoo-nuh-vur-suhl] / ˌyu nəˈvɜr səl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of all or the whole.

   universal experience.

2. applicable everywhere or in all cases; general.

   a universal cure.

3. affecting, concerning, or involving all.

   universal military service.

4. used or understood by all.

   a universal language.

5. present everywhere.

   the universal calm of southern seas.

6. versed in or embracing many or all skills, branches of learning, etc..

   Leonardo da Vinci was a universal genius.

7. of or relating to the universe, all nature, or all existing things.

   universal cause.

8. characterizing all or most members of a class; generic.

9. Logic. (of a proposition) asserted of every member of a class.

10. Linguistics. found in all languages or belonging to the human language faculty.

11. Machinery. noting any of various machines, tools, or devices widely adaptable in position, range of use, etc.

12. Metalworking.

    1. (of metal plates and shapes) rolled in a universal mill.

    2. (of a rolling mill or rolling method) having or employing vertical edging rolls.

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noun

1. something that may be applied throughout the universe to many things, usually thought of as an entity that can be in many places at the same time.

2. a trait, characteristic, or property, as distinguished from a particular individual or event, that can be possessed in common, as the care of a mother for her young.

3. Logic. a universal proposition.

4. Philosophy.

   1. a general term or concept or the generic nature that such a term signifies; a Platonic idea or Aristotelian form.

   2. an entity that remains unchanged in character in a series of changes or changing relations.

   3. Hegelianism. concrete universal.

5. language universal.

6. Machinery. universal joint.

universal British  

/ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or typical of the whole of mankind or of nature

2. common to, involving, or proceeding from all in a particular group

3. applicable to or affecting many individuals, conditions, or cases; general

4. existing or prevailing everywhere

5. applicable or occurring throughout or relating to the universe; cosmic

   a universal constant

6. (esp of a language) capable of being used and understood by all

7. embracing or versed in many fields of knowledge, activity, interest, etc

8. machinery designed or adapted for a range of sizes, fittings, or uses

9. linguistics (of a constraint in a formal grammar) common to the grammatical description of all human languages, actual or possible

10. logic (of a statement or proposition) affirming or denying something about every member of a class, as in all men are wicked Compare particular

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noun

1. philosophy

   1. a general term or concept or the type such a term signifies

   2. a metaphysical entity taken to be the reference of a general term, as distinct from the class of individuals it describes See also realism

   3. a Platonic Idea or Aristotelian form

2. logic

   1. a universal proposition, statement, or formula

   2. a universal quantifier

3. a characteristic common to every member of a particular culture or to every human being

4. short for universal joint

Usage

The use of more universal as in his writings have long been admired by fellow scientists, but his latest book should have more universal appeal is acceptable in modern English usage

Related Words

See general.

Other Word Forms

• nonuniversal adjective
• nonuniversally adverb
• quasi-universal adjective
• quasi-universally adverb
• subuniversal adjective
• superuniversal adjective
• superuniversally adverb
• superuniversalness noun
• universalness noun

Etymology

Origin of universal

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English universel (adjective), from Middle French, from Latin ūniversālis; equivalent to universe + -al ¹

Explanation

Universal describes something for everything or everyone. Universal design is architectural design that accommodates every person. A universal remote can change the stations on all your home entertainment systems, but hopefully not at once. The uni in universal means "one" so this word is all about "one for all and all for one." If it's universal, it applies to all cases. Like the universe itself, a universal emotion is one that every human can understand or relate to. The desire for your children to be safe and happy is universal. If you are to make a universal change in a document it means that every time the specified word appears, it should be fixed.

Example Sentences

One of those projects is Ford’s universal electric vehicle platform unveiled in 2025 External link.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Other people mulling life insurance like universal life because it comes with a tax-deferred cash value.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

By continuing to study how adhesion changes as plants respond to different conditions, they hope to determine whether this is a universal way plants regulate growth.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Netflix doesn’t have a formula for a breakout success, Howe said, but strong voices that feel universal must be at the show’s core.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Were the world just and Swedish-speaking, Scheele would have enjoyed universal acclaim.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• broad
• common
• comprehensive
• extensive
• global
• prevalent
• ubiquitous
• unlimited