one-size-fits-all

American

[wuhn-sahyz-fits-awl] / ˈwʌnˈsaɪzˌfɪtsˈɔl /

adjective

(of clothing) designed to fit people of a wide range of sizes.
Informal. acceptable or used for a wide variety of purposes or circumstances; appealing or suitable to a variety of tastes.

one-size-fits-all British

adjective

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of one-size-fits-all

First recorded in 1905–10

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.

See Examples For:

one-size-fits-all

That we will not try to drive a one-size-fits-all response across the states.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

Based on the findings, the researchers argue that the current one-size-fits-all approach to exercise recommendations may need to be reconsidered.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

“There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each city will face different challenges.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

"They need to change the way that they're thinking they can teach students as a one-size-fits-all."

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

A one-size-fits-all relief effort that doesn’t actually fit anyone.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023