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Universal: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒ
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universal

 

[หŒjuห.nษชหˆvษœห.sษ™l ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

applicable to all cases or instances

Of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable to all cases or instances.

Synonyms

all-encompassing, general, global.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
universal

Used when something applies everywhere or to everyone, often in a broad or abstract sense.

  • The need for love is universal.
  • This theory has universal relevance.
all-encompassing

Appropriate when describing something that includes everything within a particular scope or range.

  • The new law has an all-encompassing impact on the economy.
  • She has an all-encompassing knowledge of the subject.
global

Fits well when talking about something that pertains to the entire world or is worldwide in scope.

  • Climate change is a global issue.
  • The company has a global presence.
general

Best used when referring to something that is broad or not specific, often in a summary or overview context.

  • In general, the weather is mild here.
  • He gave a general overview of the project.

Examples of usage

  • The idea of universal human rights
  • A universal truth is true for all times and places.
Context #2 | Noun

a person or thing having universal effect, currency, or application

A person or thing having universal effect, currency, or application.

Synonyms

commonality, generalization, standard.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
universal

Describing something that applies to everyone or everything, regardless of culture, location, or situation.

  • The desire for happiness is a universal human trait.
  • This medicine has a universal application in treating common colds.
commonality

Referring to shared features or attributes among a group of people or things.

  • There is a lot of commonality between English and German words.
  • The commonality of experiences among the team helped build strong relationships.
standard

Indicating a level of quality or requirement that is widely accepted and expected.

  • This car meets the highest safety standards.
  • The company follows industry standards for data protection.
generalization

Making a broad statement that applies to a group based on specific observations, often used in discussions of trends or behaviors.

  • Saying that all teenagers are rebellious is a generalization.
  • The scientist made a generalization based on the data from the study.

Examples of usage

  • He was a universal in the world of fashion.
  • The theory is a universal in the field of physics.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'universalis', which means 'belonging to all' or 'whole'.
  • In ancient times, it was often used in philosophy to discuss concepts that applied to the entire world.
  • The root 'uni-' means 'one', indicating oneness or wholeness.

Philosophy

  • In philosophy, universal principles suggest truths that apply to all individuals, regardless of culture or background.
  • The idea of universal moral values challenges the notion of relativism, which holds that truth varies across different frameworks.
  • Philosophers like Kant argued for the existence of universal moral laws that everyone should follow.

Science

  • In physics, universal laws describe fundamental principles that govern the behavior of all matter and energy in the universe.
  • The theory of relativity proposes that laws of physics are universal and invariant for all observers, regardless of their relative motion.
  • Universal gravitation, formulated by Newton, states that every point mass attracts every other point mass in the universe.

Technology

  • Universal Design is an approach in product development that aims to make products accessible and usable for all people, regardless of age or ability.
  • Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology was developed to create a standard connection for devices, making them easily compatible.
  • Software languages can be termed universal if they can be used across various platforms and devices without modification.

Art & Culture

  • In literature and art, universal themes, such as love and loss, resonate across different cultures and eras.
  • The concept of universal human rights emerged after World War II, emphasizing rights that every person is entitled to regardless of nationality.
  • Folklore often contains universal symbols and stories that reflect shared human experiences, such as creation myths.

Translations

Translations of the word "universal" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น universal

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคพเคฐเฅเคตเคญเฅŒเคฎเคฟเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช universell

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ universal

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัƒะฝั–ะฒะตั€ัะฐะปัŒะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ uniwersalny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ™ฎ้็š„ (ใตใธใ‚“ใฆใ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท universel

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ universal

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท evrensel

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ณดํŽธ์ ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุงู„ู…ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ univerzรกlnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ univerzรกlny

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ™ฎ้็š„ (pว”biร n de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ univerzalen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ alhliรฐa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ำ™ะผะฑะตะฑะฐะฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒœแƒ˜แƒ•แƒ”แƒ แƒกแƒแƒšแƒฃแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ universal

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ universal

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,305, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.