universal

English

Etymology

From Middle English universal, from Old French universal (modern French universel), from Latin ūniversālis, equivalent to universe +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl̩/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/
  • Audio (General American):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)səl
  • Hyphenation: uni‧vers‧al

Adjective

universal (comparative more universal, superlative most universal)

  1. Of or pertaining to the universe.
  2. Common to all members of a group or class.
    • 1911, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Bunyan, John”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica‎[1]:
      In Logic, the letter A is used as a symbol for the universal affirmative proposition in the general form "all x is y."
    • 1922, Henry Ford, Samuel Crowther, chapter 4, in My Life and Work, Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing Company, Inc., →OCLC:
      I had been planning every day through these years toward a universal car.
    • 1955 January, Charles E. Lee, “The Glasgow Underground Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 24:
      Eventually, the railway opened on Monday, December 14, 1896, with a universal fare of 1d. collected at the turnstiles, and conditions were immediately chaotic, as many passengers travelled round and round, and refused to leave the cars.
    • 2022 January 30, Steve Slevinski, “Formal SignWriting”, in IETF‎[2], archived from the original on 30 April 2024:
      Sutton SignWriting is the universal and complete solution for written sign language, ISO 15924 script code "Sgnw".
  3. Common to all society; worldwide, global.
    She achieved universal fame.
    • a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Life of John Dryden, Esq.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page xiii:
      [John] Dryden's univerſal genius, his firmly eſtablished reputation, and the glory his memory muſt always reflect upon the nation that gave him birth, make us ardently wiſh for a more accurate life of him than any which has hitherto appeared: […]
    • 2026 August, Shea Alexander, “Basic Relief Carving Techniques”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, page 27:
      First there is no universal sizing system for carving tools. Seemingly every brand and country of manufacture uses a different system.
  4. Unlimited; vast; infinite.
    • 1983, Wendy Griswold, “The Devil's Techniques: Cultural Legitimation and Social Change”, in American Sociological Review‎[3], volume 48, number 5, page 670a of 668–680:
      Playwrights have recognized the usefulness of this archetype and used him in many dramatic contexts, for the Trickster's freedom from determination gives him a universal fascination.
  5. Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.
    universal wrench

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

Noun

universal (plural universals)

  2. (philosophy, often in the plural) A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.
    • 1912, Bertrand Russel, The Problems of Philosophy, Chapter 9:
      When we examine common words, we find that, broadly speaking, proper names stand for particulars, while other substantives, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs stand for universals.
    • 1942, Robert Frost, “The Lesson for Today”, in The Poems of Robert Frost: […], New York, N.Y.: The Modern Library, published 1946, →OCLC, page 406:
      But these are universals, not confined / To any one time, place, or human kind.
    • 1970, John R. Searle, Speech acts‎[4]:
      We might also distinguish those expressions which are used to refer to individuals or particulars from those which are used to refer to what philosophers have called universals: e.g., to distinguish such expressions as "Everest" and "this chair" from "the number three", "the color red" and "drunkenness".
    • 2021, Meghan O'Gieblyn, chapter 11, in God, Human, Animal, Machine […] , →ISBN:
      Empiricism was similarly a response to this loss of universals—a radically contingent world with no underlying order must constantly be studied and tested—and made God himself unnecessary: divine spirit and human spirit were alien enough to each other that they could function without taking each other into account.
  3. (linguistics) A pattern that occurs systematically across natural languages.

Translations

Further reading

Catalan

Etymology

    Learned borrowing from Latin ūniversālis. First attested in c. 1400.[1]

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): (Northern, Central) [u.ni.βərˈsal], [u.ni.βərˈzal]
    • IPA(key): (Balearic) [u.ni.vərˈsal], [u.ni.vərˈzal]
    • IPA(key): (Valencia) [u.ni.veɾˈsal], [u.ni.veɾˈzal]
    • IPA(key): (Northwestern) [u.ni.βerˈsal], [u.ni.βerˈzal]
    • Audio (Barcelona):(file)

    Adjective

    universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universals)

    1. universal

    Derived terms

    References

    1. ^ “universal”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026

    Further reading

    Crimean Tatar

    Adjective

    universal

    1. universal

    References

    Danish

    Adjective

    universal

    1. alternative spelling of universel

    Inflection

    Inflection of universal
    positive comparative superlative
    indefinite common singular universal — —2
    indefinite neuter singular universalt — —2
    plural universale — —2
    definite attributive1 universale — —

    1 When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
    the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
    2 The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

    References

    Galician

    Etymology

    Etymology tree
    Proto-Indo-European *ís?
    Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos
    Proto-Italic *oinos
    Archaic Latin oinos
    Latin ūnus
    Proto-Indo-European *wert-
    Proto-Indo-European *-tós
    Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós
    Proto-Italic *worssosder.
    Latin vorsus
    Latin versus
    Latin ūniversus
    Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
    Proto-Indo-European *-is
    Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
    Proto-Italic *-ālis
    Latin -ālis
    Latin ūniversālis
    Galician universal

      From Latin ūniversālis.

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈs̺ɑɫ]
      • Rhymes: -al
      • Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

      Adjective

      universal m or f (plural universais)

      1. of or pertaining to the universe
      2. world-wide, universal, common to all cultures
        Synonym: mundial

      Derived terms

      Further reading

      German

      Etymology

        Borrowed from Latin ūniversālis.

        Pronunciation

        • IPA(key): /univɛʁˈzaːl/
        • Rhymes: -aːl
        • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

        Adjective

        universal (strong nominative masculine singular universaler, comparative universaler, superlative am universalsten)

        1. universal

        Declension

        Positive forms of universal
        number & gender singular plural
        masculine feminine neuter
        predicative er ist universal sie ist universal es ist universal sie sind universal
        strong declension
        (without article)         		nominative universaler universale universales universale
        genitive universalen universaler universalen universaler
        dative universalem universaler universalem universalen
        accusative universalen universale universales universale
        weak declension
        (with definite article)         		nominative der universale die universale das universale die universalen
        genitive des universalen der universalen des universalen der universalen
        dative dem universalen der universalen dem universalen den universalen
        accusative den universalen die universale das universale die universalen
        mixed declension
        (with indefinite article)         		nominative ein universaler eine universale ein universales (keine) universalen
        genitive eines universalen einer universalen eines universalen (keiner) universalen
        dative einem universalen einer universalen einem universalen (keinen) universalen
        accusative einen universalen eine universale ein universales (keine) universalen
        Comparative forms of universal
        number & gender singular plural
        masculine feminine neuter
        predicative er ist universaler sie ist universaler es ist universaler sie sind universaler
        strong declension
        (without article)         		nominative universalerer universalere universaleres universalere
        genitive universaleren universalerer universaleren universalerer
        dative universalerem universalerer universalerem universaleren
        accusative universaleren universalere universaleres universalere
        weak declension
        (with definite article)         		nominative der universalere die universalere das universalere die universaleren
        genitive des universaleren der universaleren des universaleren der universaleren
        dative dem universaleren der universaleren dem universaleren den universaleren
        accusative den universaleren die universalere das universalere die universaleren
        mixed declension
        (with indefinite article)         		nominative ein universalerer eine universalere ein universaleres (keine) universaleren
        genitive eines universaleren einer universaleren eines universaleren (keiner) universaleren
        dative einem universaleren einer universaleren einem universaleren (keinen) universaleren
        accusative einen universaleren eine universalere ein universaleres (keine) universaleren
        Superlative forms of universal
        number & gender singular plural
        masculine feminine neuter
        predicative er ist am universalsten sie ist am universalsten es ist am universalsten sie sind am universalsten
        strong declension
        (without article)         		nominative universalster universalste universalstes universalste
        genitive universalsten universalster universalsten universalster
        dative universalstem universalster universalstem universalsten
        accusative universalsten universalste universalstes universalste
        weak declension
        (with definite article)         		nominative der universalste die universalste das universalste die universalsten
        genitive des universalsten der universalsten des universalsten der universalsten
        dative dem universalsten der universalsten dem universalsten den universalsten
        accusative den universalsten die universalste das universalste die universalsten
        mixed declension
        (with indefinite article)         		nominative ein universalster eine universalste ein universalstes (keine) universalsten
        genitive eines universalsten einer universalsten eines universalsten (keiner) universalsten
        dative einem universalsten einer universalsten einem universalsten (keinen) universalsten
        accusative einen universalsten eine universalste ein universalstes (keine) universalsten

        Further reading

        • “universal” in Duden online
        • “universal”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[5] (in German)

        Indonesian

        Etymology

        Internationalism, from Latin ūniversālis.

        Pronunciation

        • (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /univərˈsal/ [u.ni.fərˈsal]
        • Rhymes: -al
        • Syllabification: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

        Adjective

        universal (comparative lebih universal, superlative paling universal)

        1. universal:
          1. of or pertaining to the universe
          2. common to all members of a group or class
            Synonym: umum
          3. common to all society; worldwide
          4. unlimited; vast; infinite
          5. useful for many purposes; all-purpose

        Noun

        universal (plural universal-universal)

        1. universal

        Derived terms

        Further reading

        Middle English

        Alternative forms

        Etymology

        Borrowed from Middle French universel, and its etymon Latin ūniversālis; equivalent to universe +‎ -al.

        Pronunciation

        • IPA(key): /iu̯ˌnivɛrˈsal/, /iu̯ˈnivɛrsal/, (by analogy to universe) /iu̯niˈvɛrsal/

        Adjective

        universal (especially Late Middle English)

        1. all-encompassing, subject to everything and everyone; having universal significance.
        2. absolute, subject to everything in a given area or subject (e.g. a settlement; a person)
        3. frequently practiced, usual, customary.
        4. (rare) Given total leeway and control; with universal power.
        5. (rare) unbiased, unprejudiced, nonpolitical
        6. (rare) general, non-specific, generic
        7. (philosophy, rare) unformed, uncreated, unmade.
        8. (philosophy, rare) theoretical, abstract, general.

        Derived terms

        Descendants

        • English: universal

        References

        Noun

        universal

        1. (Late Middle English, philosophy, rare) A category, class, or classification.

        Descendants

        References

        Determiner

        universal

        1. (Late Middle English) The whole, all of, every portion of, all parts of.
        2. (Late Middle English, rare) Every kind of; all sorts of

        References

        Occitan

        Etymology

        From Latin ūniversālis.

        Pronunciation

        Adjective

        universal m (feminine singular universala, masculine plural universals, feminine plural universalas)

        1. universal

        Derived terms

        • universalament

        Old French

        Etymology

          Derived from Latin ūniversālis..

          Adjective

          universal m (feminine universale)

          1. universal

          Descendants

          Piedmontese

          Alternative forms

          • üniversal

          Pronunciation

          • IPA(key): /ynivɛrˈsal/

          Adjective

          universal

          1. universal

          Portuguese

          Etymology

          Etymology tree
          Proto-Indo-European *ís?
          Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos
          Proto-Italic *oinos
          Archaic Latin oinos
          Latin ūnus
          Proto-Indo-European *wert-
          Proto-Indo-European *-tós
          Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós
          Proto-Italic *worssosder.
          Latin vorsus
          Latin versus
          Latin ūniversus
          Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
          Proto-Indo-European *-is
          Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
          Proto-Italic *-ālis
          Latin -ālis
          Latin ūniversālisder.
          Portuguese universal

            Derived from Latin ūniversālis.

            Pronunciation

             
            • (Brazil) IPA(key): /u.ni.veʁˈsaw/ [u.ni.vehˈsaʊ̯]
              • (São Paulo) IPA(key): /u.ni.veɾˈsaw/ [u.ni.veɾˈsaʊ̯]
              • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /u.ni.veʁˈsaw/ [u.ni.veχˈsaʊ̯]
              • (Caipira) IPA(key): /u.ni.veɻˈsaw/ [u.ni.veɻˈsaʊ̯]
             
            • (Portugal) IPA(key): /u.ni.vɨɾˈsal/ [u.ni.vɨɾˈsaɫ]
              • (Northern Portugal) IPA(key): /u.ni.bɨɾˈsal/ [u.ni.βɨɾˈsaɫ]
              • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /u.ni.vɨɾˈsa.li/

            • Hyphenation: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

            Adjective

            universal m or f (plural universais, comparable, comparative mais universal, superlative o mais universal or universalíssimo)

            1. (relational) universe; universal
            2. common to all society; universal; world-wide
            3. common to all members of a group or class; universal
              • 1999, Os pecados da língua: pequeno repertório de grandes erros de linguagem, Editora AGE Ltda., →ISBN, page 114:
                Símbolos
                ☞ Não se usa o ponto indicativo de abreviação: km, m l, kg.
                ☞ Têm formas iguais para singular e plural.
                ☞ São de uso universal e irrestrito.
                (please add an English translation of this quotation)

            Derived terms

            Further reading

            Romanian

            Etymology

            Borrowed from French universel, from Latin universalis. By surface analysis, univers +‎ -al.

            Adjective

            universal m or n (feminine singular universală, masculine plural universali, feminine/neuter plural universale)

            1. universal

            Declension

            Declension of universal
            singular plural
            masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
            nominative-
            accusative             		indefinite universal universală universali universale
            definite universalul universala universalii universalele
            genitive-
            dative             		indefinite universal universale universali universale
            definite universalului universalei universalilor universalelor

            Spanish

            Etymology

            Etymology tree
            Proto-Indo-European *ís?
            Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos
            Proto-Italic *oinos
            Archaic Latin oinos
            Latin ūnus
            Proto-Indo-European *wert-
            Proto-Indo-European *-tós
            Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós
            Proto-Italic *worssosder.
            Latin vorsus
            Latin versus
            Latin ūniversus
            Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
            Proto-Indo-European *-is
            Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
            Proto-Italic *-ālis
            Latin -ālis
            Latin ūniversālisder.
            Spanish universal

              Derived from Latin ūniversālis.

              Pronunciation

              • IPA(key): /unibeɾˈsal/ [u.ni.β̞eɾˈsal]
              • Rhymes: -al
              • Syllabification: u‧ni‧ver‧sal

              Adjective

              universal m or f (masculine and feminine plural universales)

              1. universal

              Derived terms

              Further reading

              Anagrams

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