Main Entry: ¹uni·ver·sal

Pronunciation: \ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin universalis, from universum universe

Date: 14th century

1 : including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception; especially : available equitably to all members of a society <universal health coverage>
2 a : present or occurring everywhere b : existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions <universal cultural patterns>
3 a : embracing a major part or the greatest portion (as of humankind) <a universal state> <universal practices> b : comprehensively broad and versatile <a universal genius>
4 a : affirming or denying something of all members of a class or of all values of a variable b : denoting every member of a class <a universal term>
5 : adapted or adjustable to meet varied requirements (as of use, shape, or size) <a universal gear cutter> <a universal remote control>

— uni·ver·sal·ly \-s(ə-)lē\ adverb

— uni·ver·sal·ness \-səl-nəs\ noun