universal

1 of 2

adjective

uni·​ver·​sal ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl How to pronounce universal (audio)
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
universally adverb
universalness noun

universal

2 of 2

noun

1
: one that is universal: such as
a
: a universal proposition in logic
b
: a predicable of traditional logic
c
: a general concept or term or something in reality to which it corresponds : essence
2
a
: a behavior pattern or institution (such as the family) existing in all cultures
b
: a culture trait characteristic of all normal adult members of a particular society

Examples of universal in a Sentence

Adjective an idea with universal appeal a pattern that is universal across all cultures
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
In his budget proposal released in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom largely spared schools, keeping intact popular initiatives like transitional kindergarten, universal school meals, community schools and after-school programs. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 The movie also deals with universal feelings of trust, bravery, and forgiveness. Akruti Babaria, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 South Korea has a universal health care system that provides care for all citizens. Jin Yu Young, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Or designing a universal screening tool as part of a patient’s electronic medical record that would help medical professionals analyze kids’ injuries indiscriminately. Jennifer Brookland, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024 Critics of universal jurisdiction have argued that the principle is not universal at all – but rather used exclusively by Western courts to pursue perpetrators from less powerful countries. David Bruckmeier, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 And that discovery came much later in the process, how universal this story is and how many thousands of families in America are going through this exact same thing, except they’re not related to Wendy Williams, who has this massive platform. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 Inflation is by no means universal, looking at a map. Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 The power of pop culture can speak equally loudly as a universal language to a student in Shanghai or a banker in Milan. Michele Smith, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
Photo: Courtesy of the Artist and Copenhagen Contemporary In the last few years, Davidsen has made a more visible move from the personal to the universal with her paintings of landscapes. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2024 In other words, a pattern that most psychologists have seen as a human universal is instead a product of culture. Shinobu Kitayama, Scientific American, 15 May 2023 But his mixed-media tapestries reach past any specific culture and toward the universal. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023 Vice President Harris, during her presidential primary campaign, articulated a true equal pay proposal, an initiative estimated to inject an additional $180 billion into U.S. coffers–revenue that could be used to offset the cost universal paid and medical leave as well as affordable childcare. Katica Roy, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023 Felker has a knack for narrative detail like the Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, able to tap into the universal through specifics, but instead of the Twin Cities, most of the action takes place in Oklahoma and neighboring states. Jon Freeman, Spin, 24 Aug. 2023 Listings are ordered by popularity, the insidious universal of the online world. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023 Not only is there is a human universal of offense at violation of sacred norms, but those sacred norms vary from culture to culture. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2012 As passive night-fighting capability is far from universal in Russia’s tank fleet, and being first to detect and shoot often determines the outcome of tank battles, the sights are particularly important. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 29 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'universal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of universal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near universal

Cite this Entry

“Universal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/universal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

universal

adjective
uni·​ver·​sal
ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl
1
: including or covering all or a whole without limit or exception
universal human characteristics
2
: present or existing everywhere or under all conditions
the family is a universal social unit
3
a
: including or involving a major part or the greatest portion
universal customs
b
: very broad in range
a universal genius
4
: adapted or adjustable to meet varied requirements (as of use, shape, or size)
a universal wrench
universally
-s(ə-)lē
adverb

Legal Definition

universal

adjective
uni·​ver·​sal ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl How to pronounce universal (audio)
1
in the civil law of Louisiana
a
: encompassing or burdening all of one's property especially causa mortis
granted him a universal usufruct
see also universal legacy at legacy compare universal title at title
b
: of or relating to a universal conveyance or a conveyance under a universal title
a universal donee
see also universal successor
2
: not confined by limitations or exceptions : general in application
universally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on universal

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