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Synonyms

global

American  
[gloh-buhl] / ˈgloʊ bəl /

adjective

  1. pertaining to the whole world; worldwide; universal.

    the dream of global peace.

  2. comprehensive.

  3. globular; globe-shaped.

  4. of, relating to, or using a terrestrial or celestial globe.

  5. (of a computer operation, linguistic rule, etc.) operating on a group of similar strings, commands, etc., in a single step.


global British  
/ ˈɡləʊbəl /

adjective

  1. covering, influencing, or relating to the whole world

  2. comprehensive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of global

First recorded in 1670–80; globe + -al 1

Explanation

When something is global, it's happening all over the world. It's easy to spot the connection between global and globe. When the volcano in Iceland erupted, it quickly became a global event. Sure, things were tough in Reykjavík, but the dust and ash caused airport shutdowns and schedule disruptions around the world. Michael Jackson was a star in the United States from the time he was a little boy, but after he broke up with his brothers and went solo in the 1980s, he became a global phenomenon. There was hardly a country on earth where Michael Jackson wasn't a star.

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Vocabulary lists containing global

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The setup is especially notable as, historically, currency trades offering the greatest carry relative to volatility have also tended to be the most sensitive to stocks and global risk appetite.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 11, 2026

In a statement, Apollo described EasyJet as "one of the most attractive businesses in the global aviation sector and a highly differentiated franchise with significant long-term growth potential".

From Barron's • Jul. 10, 2026

In our conversation, he outlines his "Patchwork" concept, in which traditional nation-states are replaced with a global network of sovereign mini-countries owned by shareholders and competing for citizens like a business competes for customers.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026

The currency has also faced pressure from sizable foreign equity outflows as global investors rebalance their portfolios.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026

“Whether started deliberately or accidentally, global war would leave civilization in a shambles,” Eisenhower warned the nation.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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