universality

play

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

Definition of universality

1 : the quality or state of being universal
2 : universal comprehensiveness in range

Recent Examples of universality from the Web

But the universality of the show transcends the individuality of its characters.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "'Fun Home' Honors A Daughter's Coming-Of-Age Story", 21 June 2017
There was a kind of universality expressed by their feelings.

— lovia gyarkye, New Republic, "The Women Who Wanted A Revolution", 31 May 2017
Their universality might make a case for keeping them around as times change, so our descendants can get a fuller sensory picture of the past.

— veronique greenwood, The Atlantic, "Can an Archive Capture the Scents of an Entire Era?", 15 May 2017
With its universality and range of meaning, the Iliad has gripped readers in many ages and societies, both peaceful and belligerent.

— james romm, The New Yorker, "A Misguided Impulse to Update the Greek Classics", 21 Apr. 2017
There’s a universality in that story—many friendships weather similar imbalances—but there’s also something particularly germane to the gay experience, a kind of double loneliness that Significant Other illustrates in subtle and lovely ways.

— richard lawson, Vanity Fair, "Talking Love and Loneliness with the Breakout Star of Broadway Gem Significant Other", 3 Mar. 2017
Troy Maxson embodies the truth that the universality of the art isn’t in its sameness but in its differences.

— a.o. scott and manohla dargis, New York Times, "Movies", 5 Jan. 2017
In general, Majumdar and Schehr believe, systems in the Tracy-Widom universality class exhibit one phase in which all components act in concert and another phase in which the components act alone.

— natalie wolchover, WIRED, "Mysterious Statistical Law May Finally Have an Explanation", 27 Oct. 2014

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.