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

• nonuniversalist
  noun
• universalistic
  adjective

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

Mozi was a universalist, insisting on the equal value of all people, without preferential treatment for family, neighbors, and country.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

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

It was a whole hour later, and as Kate was starting out for golf she saw Ann and Worth sitting on the sandpile, a tired inquirer and very weary universalist asleep at their feet.

From The Visioning by Glaspell, Susan