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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.

Researchers warn that AI deepfakes -- used to target global leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky -- can influence voter turnout and distort geopolitical events.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

The discovery also suggests that scientists may need to rethink the global methane budget, which estimates how much methane enters and leaves Earth's atmosphere.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

Lizi says the updated scheme won't keep her "loyal to Lidl" and now plans to switch between there and Aldi, keen to still find savings as inflation and global conflicts increase prices.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

The veteran politicians will advise the PM on global finance and tackling violence against women.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

I knew that in the coming years, a college education would only become more essential for young people entering a global job market.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama