universality

noun uni·ver·sal·i·ty \ ˌyü-nə-(ˌ)vər-ˈsa-lə-tē \

Updated on: 1 Apr 2018

Definition of universality

1 : the quality or state of being universal

2 : universal comprehensiveness in range

Recent Examples of universality from the Web

Her mission is for students to appreciate the universality of the human condition, to make personal connections, and to consider resolutions to conflicts.

— Philly.com, "Lindback Foundation 2018 distinguished Philadelphia teachers," 27 Mar. 2018
But by far the book is also steeped in terror, which seeps into every story and can be smothering in its offhand universality.

— steve donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, "Rania Abouzeid's book 'No Turning Back,' about the Syrian civil war, is eloquent and devastating," 19 Mar. 2018
This is important because the Hollywood power structure continues to assume the universality of white male experience, and the otherness of everyone else.

— jill filipovic, Cosmopolitan, "A Few Time's Up References at the Oscars Aren't Enough to Fix a Broken Movie Industry," 5 Mar. 2018
One part of that universality seems to be the difference between what’s said and what’s meant.

— lily rothman, Time, "Armando Iannucci on The Death of Stalin and Making a Funny Movie About Real Historical Trauma," 5 Mar. 2018
There should be minimal standards, but the IOC insists on keeping the universality joke running.

— david whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Johnny Weir's hair and I will star in next Winter Olympics," 24 Feb. 2018
But universality is a thin line that separates the obvious from the enlightening; things that everyone feels risk triteness when turned into art.

— robert lloyd, latimes.com, "HBO drama ponders the 'Here and Now'," 9 Feb. 2018
Most of the album’s songs revolve around love, and have a similar strain of universality in their themes.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Robert Plant may have moved back home to England, but he hasn’t returned to his musical past," 8 Feb. 2018
Steeped in Latino culture (all three are Mexican), the podcast aims for a universality of the Houston experience.

— camilo hannibal smith, Houston Chronicle, "The real 'House Husbands' of Houston," 7 Feb. 2018

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