universalist

American  

[yoo-nuh-vur-suh-list] / ˌyu nəˈvɜr sə lɪst /

noun

1. a person characterized by universalism, as in knowledge, interests, or activities.

2. (initial capital letter) a member of a liberal religious denomination advocating Universalism.

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adjective

1. (initial capital letter) Also Universalistic. of or relating to Universalism or Universalists.

universalist British  

/ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəlɪst /

noun

1. a person who has a wide range of interests, knowledge, activities, etc

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adjective

1. characterized by universality

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• universalistic
  adjective
• nonuniversalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of universalist

First recorded in 1620–30; universal + -ist

Example Sentences

That’s the universalist worldview that built public education in the first place, and it’s the one we must recover to lead in the future.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

“Given the many religious tensions across the world, the real challenges of interfaith dialogue, and the self-selected crowd at Toronto, the universalist rhetoric could sound a little hollow. “

From Seattle Times • Aug. 14, 2023

But if you looked under the hood, these universalist policies promised additional or extra or disproportionate benefits to the most vulnerable, including African Americans.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2021

Arce, a 50-year-old hairdresser who lives in Rancho Cucamonga, said he has universalist faith views, but was born into the Catholic faith and still considers it his “main base.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2021

And so the girl and the little boy and the two puppies, the joy of motion freeing them from the sad weight of inquirer and universalist, started across the lawn for the stables.

From The Visioning by Glaspell, Susan