universal donor

noun

|Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of universal donor

: a person with blood group O blood which can be donated to any recipient; also : the blood of such a person

Recent Examples of universal donor from the Web

The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
This minimal pair is like a universal donor, looking right at home next to every style of sofa, from contemporary tuxedo to traditional Chesterfield.

— joanna linberg, Sunset, "10 Winning Side-Table Styling Ideas," 22 Jan. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018
The search for a donor was complicated by his blood type, O Positive, which makes him a universal donor, but only able to receive a kidney from a person with his blood type.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "A dad wore a T-shirt at Disney World that said 'In need of kidney.' It worked.," 4 Feb. 2018

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

First Known Use of universal donor

1920

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

universal donor

noun

medical Definition of universal donor

1 : a person who has Rh-negative blood of the blood group O and whose blood can be donated to any recipient; broadly : a person with blood group O blood

2 : the blood or blood group of a universal donor