universal

adjective

uni·ver·sal | \ ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl

Definition of universal

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : present or occurring everywhere

b : existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions universal cultural patterns

3a : embracing a major part or the greatest portion (as of humankind) a universal state universal practices

b : comprehensively broad and versatile a universal genius

4a : 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

universal

noun

Definition of universal (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2a : 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

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Other Words from universal

Adjective

universally \ ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-s(ə-)lē

\ adverb

universalness \ ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl-nəs

\ noun

Synonyms for universal

Synonyms: Adjective

adaptable, all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile

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

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is spearheading the federal effort for a universal vaccine. — WSJ, "New Ideas to Fight the Flu," 20 Nov. 2018 Pawar, who will be part of the panel, claims universal basic income is a way to tackle poverty amid the loss of jobs due to automation and the offshoring of industries. — Lukas Mikelionis, Fox News, "Chicago sets up universal income task force as city seeks ways to tackle poverty," 12 Sep. 2018 That's possible under social democracy through taxation or universal basic income. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Meet Ash Sarkar, the Communist Who Called Piers Morgan an "Idiot"," 15 July 2018 There are also efforts underway to develop a universal flu vaccine that can immunize against the lion’s share of strains, including one sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "This New Single Dose Flu Drug Could Be Coming to the U.S. Before the Next Flu Season," 28 June 2018 By contrast, Johnston says his team at A.S.U.’s Biodesign Institute Center for Innovations in Medicine is trying to develop a universal, preventive cancer vaccine—an injection that could be employed before tumors develop. — Keridwen Cornelius, Scientific American, "A Shot against Cancer Slated for Testing in Massive Dog Study," 7 June 2018 The idea of governments providing a universal basic income to their citizens has been gaining traction globally. — Jane Ross, The Christian Science Monitor, "California city mayor proposes to combat poverty with guaranteed income," 4 June 2018 The bill included $414 million in new funding for Alzheimer’s disease research, $40 million in new funds for research on a universal flu vaccine and some $500 million for research on opioid addiction, among other grants. — Bruce Selcraig, San Antonio Express-News, "UT Health research given $24 million vote of confidence," 31 May 2018 My proposal is a counterpoint to universal basic income. — Felipe Ossa, Daily Intelligencer, "Yanis Varoufakis Has Some Ideas About How to Save The Future," 25 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Her platform includes abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), making healthcare universal for all Americans, paid family leave, and more. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Just Made History in New York," 27 June 2018 Patriarchal capitalism has arguably had a vested interest in promoting the latter idea as a human universal: as the Marxist psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich pointed out, with women providing free housework and caregiving, capitalists could pay men less. — Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, "Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry," 23 Apr. 2018 Like any good storyteller, Sean Dorsey has a knack for distilling the universal from the specific. — Claudia Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Francisco’s Sean Dorsey Dance unpacks ‘boy trouble’," 12 Apr. 2018 But values are rooted in emotion and experience as well as reason, in the local as well as the universal. — Alison Gopnik, The Atlantic, "When Truth and Reason Are No Longer Enough," 17 Mar. 2018 Though these words, from the pen of Hans Christian Andersen, are an appealing notion, the idea that there might be universals in music which transcend cultural boundaries has generally been met with scepticism by scholars working in the field. — The Economist, "EthnomusicologyMusic may be the food of love, but oddly, is not its language," 25 Jan. 2018 Brissett earned universal praised from coaches and teammates after the loss. — Zak Keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Colts vs. Browns: 5 things I think," 23 Sep. 2017 The sailor and the nurse were intended as universals, and they are best seen that way. — Time, "Celebrating Legendary LIFE Photo Editor John G. Morris," 28 July 2017 That said, this inclusive, open-hearted play, fundamentally and determinedly, traffics in universals. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Review: A bright, doomed relationship, laid bare in 'Bright Half Life'," 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'universal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near universal

universal affirmation

universal calling

universal cause

Statistics for universal

Last Updated

2 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for universal

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

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More Definitions for universal

universal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of universal

: done or experienced by everyone : existing or available for everyone

: existing or true at all times or in all places

See the full definition for universal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

universal

adjective

uni·ver·sal | \ ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl

Kids Definition of universal

1 : including, covering, or taking in all or everything universal medical care

2 : present or happening everywhere universal celebration

universal

adjective

uni·ver·sal | \ ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl

Legal Definition of universal

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