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

See Examples For:

one-size-fits-all

Back in Dubai, Rosie says the arrival of her second child changed everything as she realised her sons were "polar opposites" and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to buying bonds, but most experts agree it’s a good idea to diversify.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

The answer should be risk-based policies that protect consumer safety and energy system reliability without one-size-fits-all prescriptions that become barriers to innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

At the same time, a justified pushback has grown against the one-size-fits-all and sometimes paternalistic advice public health hands out, especially to pregnant women.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

The one-size-fits-all costume didn’t fit me, the shortest shepherd in the class, so I had to keep pushing up the sleeves.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass