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Synonyms

universality

American  
[yoo-nuh-ver-sal-i-tee] / ˌju nə vərˈsæl ɪ ti /

noun

universalities plural
  1. the character or state of being universal; existence or prevalence everywhere.

  2. relation, extension, or applicability to all.

  3. universal character or range of knowledge, interests, etc.


universality British  
/ ˌjuːnɪvɜːˈsælɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being universal

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of universality

1325–75; Middle English universalite < Late Latin ūniversālitās. See universal, -ity

Vocabulary lists containing universality

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"The experimental demonstration of KPZ universality in two-dimensional material systems highlights just how fundamental this equation is for real non-equilibrium systems," says Diehl, commenting on the Würzburg team's achievement.

From Science Daily May 6, 2026

Burden has been surprised by the overwhelming resonance of her book, and the universality of the emotional and psychological pain she endured in her marriage.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 31, 2026

The Winter Olympic Federations said in a statement earlier this week it was "fully committed" to "innovation, universality, and strengthening the special and clearly differentiated appeal" of the Olympic Winter Games.

From BBC Nov. 14, 2025

He liked the fresh, colorful and sensual image that a mango instilled, and the universality of a word recognizable in many languages without translation.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 26, 2025

Crick was referring to the striking universality of the flow of genetic information throughout biology.*

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

They’re narratives that tap into life’s universalities and help us make sense of the world around us.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 29, 2025

But there are certain universalities to the relationship between P.R. and the press, which can be symbiotic, parasitic and antagonistic.

From New York Times Apr. 18, 2022

In so doing she exposes mankind’s best and worst qualities, our universalities and differences, illuminating all the while the myriad ways in which a heart can be pure.

From New York Times Aug. 6, 2019

Are those emotional universalities no fun unless the world has ended too?

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 12, 2018

Can any man faithfully preach the Gospel who is always flying over the heads of his hearers with universalities, and never goes straight to their hearts with 'Thou—thou art the man!'

From Expositions of Holy Scripture: the Acts by Maclaren, Alexander

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