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

Advertising The EN700 Pros are universal fit in-ear monitors, which means they are not custom-fitted to the ear. — Jim Rossman, The Seattle Times, "Tech review: Simgot in-ear monitors offer great sound and a great price," 13 Apr. 2019 The record is a victory lap from a couple who have mined their relationship for universal truths and then presented them as art. — Anchorage Daily News, "A guide to Beyonce and Jay-Z’s surprise joint album ‘Everything is Love’," 18 June 2018 That is a universal human truth, a lament that has been well-documented throughout mankind's time on this planet. — Alex Delany, Bon Appetit, "How to Build a One-Skillet Meal Like It's Your Job," 14 May 2018 She's tried to push through a universal program to this end in Congress every year for the past five years, with no success. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "This Is What Kirsten Gillibrand's Platform Is Expected to Look Like," 16 Jan. 2019 And that Great Recession became, though not strictly universal, certainly a global phenomenon, striking Britain, Japan, and the European Union with spillover effects to South Africa, most of Latin America, and beyond. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "The Great Recession was awful. And we don’t have a plan to stop the next one.," 16 Oct. 2018 Both are signs of how universal Shelley’s myth has become. — Elizabeth Lowry, WSJ, "The Mother of Frankenstein," 1 June 2018 But the objective is universal: Play well enough to clinch a berth in 2022 world championships, which will be limited to 30 qualifying countries. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "For a shot at world championship, area lacrosse players follow family history to nontraditional nations," 12 July 2018 Disrupt-Her isn’t billed as a memoir, and much of it focuses on universal topics like the importance of investing one’s money, cultivating a partner’s best qualities, and decluttering one’s home. — Eliza Brooke, Glamour, "Is the World Ready for Miki Agrawal and Her Next Big Idea?," 4 Apr. 2019

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

22 May 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