# universal

/ˌjunəˈvɝsəɫ/ (US) · /jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/universal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. applying to everyone

adjective · CEFR B2

existing everywhere or involving everyone in the world or a specific group.

For teachers: relating to or affecting the entire world or all people within a particular group.

- The desire for a happy life is a universal human feeling.
- The committee argued that access to clean water should be recognized as a universal human right, regardless of a nation's economic status.

### 2. all-purpose

adjective · CEFR B2

designed to be used for many different purposes or to fit many different things.

For teachers: capable of being used for various purposes or adapted to different sizes and shapes.

- I bought a universal remote that works with the TV and the DVD player.
- The technician recommended a universal mounting bracket, as it was compatible with several different monitor brands.

### 3. a shared quality

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

a quality or feature that many different things have in common.

For teachers: a property or characteristic that is shared by all members of a class or group of particular things.

- Philosophers often discuss whether 'redness' is a universal that exists on its own.
- The debate centered on whether beauty is a true universal or merely a subjective experience that varies between cultures.

Usage: Often used in contrast with 'particulars' in philosophical logic.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized sense; students will likely only encounter it in academic texts regarding logic or metaphysics.

## Examples

- Kindness is often considered a human universal.
- The philosopher argued that certain moral laws are universals that apply to every society regardless of its history.
- In the debate over realism, scholars question whether a universal like 'redness' exists as an abstract entity or merely as a linguistic label for similar sensory experiences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.