one-size-fits-all

American  

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

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 British  

adjective

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

---

Etymology

Origin of one-size-fits-all

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Ultimately, the goal is to move toward more personalized care, where treatments are tailored to the specific characteristics of each patient's cancer rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

“You don’t need to use them — you just need to wear them,” a civil servant says, capturing the government’s one-size-fits-all indifference.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

However, one big caveat is that this strategy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and in momentum-driven markets—like the one that has been dominant in recent years—it’s actually a headwind.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works with trades on big, sprawling sectors such as technology.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

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

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman