universal

[ yoo-nuh-vur-suh l ]

/ ˌyu nəˈvɜr səl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR universal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of all or the whole: universal experience.

applicable everywhere or in all cases; general: a universal cure.

affecting, concerning, or involving all: universal military service.

used or understood by all: a universal language.

present everywhere: the universal calm of southern seas.

versed in or embracing many or all skills, branches of learning, etc.: Leonardo da Vinci was a universal genius.

of or relating to the universe, all nature, or all existing things: universal cause.

characterizing all or most members of a class; generic.

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

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

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

Metalworking.

(of metal plates and shapes) rolled in a universal mill.
(of a rolling mill or rolling method) having or employing vertical edging rolls.

noun

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.

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.

Logic. a universal proposition.

Philosophy.

a general term or concept or the generic nature that such a term signifies; a Platonic idea or Aristotelian form.
an entity that remains unchanged in character in a series of changes or changing relations.
Hegelianism. concrete universal.

language universal.

Machinery. universal joint.

Nearby words

univ., univalence, univalent, univalve, univariate, universal, universal affirmative, universal beam, universal chuck, universal city, universal class

Origin of universal

1325–75; Middle English universel (adj.) < Middle French < Latin ūniversālis. See universe, -al¹

Related forms

u·ni·ver·sal·ness, nounnon·u·ni·ver·sal, adjective, nounnon·u·ni·ver·sal·ly, adverbqua·si-u·ni·ver·sal, adjective

qua·si-u·ni·ver·sal·ly, adverbsub·u·ni·ver·sal, adjectivesu·per·u·ni·ver·sal, adjectivesu·per·u·ni·ver·sal·ly, adverbsu·per·u·ni·ver·sal·ness, noun

Synonym study

5. See general.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for universal

“I care about what the universal sense of the film is,” she says.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most people know the Universal Life Church as a quick and easy place to get ordained without leaving your couch.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 15-21, 2014|William Boot|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The last arm of the bill is universal e-prescribing for all prescriptions.
No More Paper Prescriptions: Docs Fight Fraud by Going Electronic|Dale Eisinger|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tosi has been using cereal milk as a flavor ever since 2007, and she says it taps into a universal “memory sensor.”
Cereal Cafe’s Big Bowl of Hate|David Levesley|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I'm to be at his Universal bungalow at twelve-thirty for lunch, to meet him for the first time, going to see a man about a job.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus by the universal improvement would be engendered a universal discontent.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The stillness and universal silence began at last to make the boys uneasy.
Frederick The Great and His Family|L. Muhlbach
A woman-question play, called 'Success,' this one, and one on Universal Peace.
Bambi|Marjorie Benton Cooke
And, when she resigned her last breath, it was with the tears and universal lamentations of her people.
Lives of Celebrated Women|Samuel Griswold Goodrich
It was in this reign of universal religious toleration that the Christian religion was brought forth and developed.
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3|Joseph Smith

British Dictionary definitions for universal

universal

/ (ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl) /

adjective

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

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

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

existing or prevailing everywhere

applicable or occurring throughout or relating to the universe; cosmica universal constant

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

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

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

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

logic (of a statement or proposition) affirming or denying something about every member of a class, as in all men are wickedCompare particular (def. 6)

noun

philosophy

a general term or concept or the type such a term signifies
a metaphysical entity taken to be the reference of a general term, as distinct from the class of individuals it describesSee also realism (def. 5)
a Platonic Idea or Aristotelian form

logic

a universal proposition, statement, or formula
a universal quantifier

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

short for universal joint

Derived Forms

universalness, noun

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

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

universal

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of universal

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for universal

British Dictionary definitions for universal

universal

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

usage