universal

American  

[yoo-nuh-vur-suhl] / ˌyu nəˈvɜr səl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of all or the whole.

   universal experience.

2. applicable everywhere or in all cases; general.

   a universal cure.

3. affecting, concerning, or involving all.

   universal military service.

4. used or understood by all.

   a universal language.

5. present everywhere.

   the universal calm of southern seas.

6. versed in or embracing many or all skills, branches of learning, etc..

   Leonardo da Vinci was a universal genius.

7. of or relating to the universe, all nature, or all existing things.

   universal cause.

8. characterizing all or most members of a class; generic.

9. Logic. (of a proposition) asserted of every member of a class.

10. Linguistics. found in all languages or belonging to the human language faculty.

11. Machinery. noting any of various machines, tools, or devices widely adaptable in position, range of use, etc.

12. Metalworking.

    1. (of metal plates and shapes) rolled in a universal mill.

    2. (of a rolling mill or rolling method) having or employing vertical edging rolls.

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noun

1. something that may be applied throughout the universe to many things, usually thought of as an entity that can be in many places at the same time.

2. a trait, characteristic, or property, as distinguished from a particular individual or event, that can be possessed in common, as the care of a mother for her young.

3. Logic. a universal proposition.

4. Philosophy.

   1. a general term or concept or the generic nature that such a term signifies; a Platonic idea or Aristotelian form.

   2. an entity that remains unchanged in character in a series of changes or changing relations.

   3. Hegelianism. concrete universal.

5. language universal.

6. Machinery. universal joint.

universal British  

/ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or typical of the whole of mankind or of nature

2. common to, involving, or proceeding from all in a particular group

3. applicable to or affecting many individuals, conditions, or cases; general

4. existing or prevailing everywhere

5. applicable or occurring throughout or relating to the universe; cosmic

   a universal constant

6. (esp of a language) capable of being used and understood by all

7. embracing or versed in many fields of knowledge, activity, interest, etc

8. machinery designed or adapted for a range of sizes, fittings, or uses

9. linguistics (of a constraint in a formal grammar) common to the grammatical description of all human languages, actual or possible

10. logic (of a statement or proposition) affirming or denying something about every member of a class, as in all men are wicked Compare particular

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noun

1. philosophy

   1. a general term or concept or the type such a term signifies

   2. a metaphysical entity taken to be the reference of a general term, as distinct from the class of individuals it describes See also realism

   3. a Platonic Idea or Aristotelian form

2. logic

   1. a universal proposition, statement, or formula

   2. a universal quantifier

3. a characteristic common to every member of a particular culture or to every human being

4. short for universal joint

Usage

The use of more universal as in his writings have long been admired by fellow scientists, but his latest book should have more universal appeal is acceptable in modern English usage

Related Words

See general.

Other Word Forms

• nonuniversal
  adjective
• nonuniversally
  adverb
• quasi-universal
  adjective
• quasi-universally
  adverb
• subuniversal
  adjective
• superuniversal
  adjective
• superuniversally
  adverb
• superuniversalness
  noun
• universalness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of universal

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English universel (adjective), from Middle French, from Latin ūniversālis; equivalent to universe + -al ¹

Explanation

Universal describes something for everything or everyone. Universal design is architectural design that accommodates every person. A universal remote can change the stations on all your home entertainment systems, but hopefully not at once. The uni in universal means "one" so this word is all about "one for all and all for one." If it's universal, it applies to all cases. Like the universe itself, a universal emotion is one that every human can understand or relate to. The desire for your children to be safe and happy is universal. If you are to make a universal change in a document it means that every time the specified word appears, it should be fixed.

Example Sentences

"In addition, since free energy is a universal thermodynamic metric, our model can be extended to other systems with similar characteristics."

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

It’s the first time a healthy Ohtani has been out of back-to-back batting orders, except for the paternity list, since the universal designated hitter rule was implemented in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

"Regarde is all about universal love," she tells the BBC.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Father Spitzer says that MagisAI is a universal voice that feels more like a pastoral figure.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

The incredible thing is that, for the first few hundred years of the first millennium ad, before a universal notation system emerged, all of the chant that monks and nuns sang was memorised.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• broad
• common
• comprehensive
• extensive
• global
• prevalent
• ubiquitous
• unlimited