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.

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one-size-fits-all British  

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of one-size-fits-all

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-size-fits-all

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

If sectoral bargaining becomes the gig-work norm, labor negotiations could impose one-size-fits-all rules such as arranged scheduling, which would permit drivers to work only at certain times.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

"It doesn't have to be this one-size-fits-all that we keep getting pushed on social media."

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Those rules have to be drafted in a formal, one-size-fits-all fashion, resulting in pages and pages of legalese.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 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