universal

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/ UK /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #6874

Meanings

1

adj
Shared by or true for everyone in a group.

The play opened to universal acclaim.
2

adj
Existing or happening everywhere in the world.

Music has a universal appeal across all cultures.
3

adj
Suitable for many different uses or purposes.

This universal tool fits screws of almost any size.
4

noun
A quality or pattern shared by all members of a group.

Some form of religion seems to be a human universal.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · shared by or true for... general

3 adj · suitable for many different... general-purposemulti-purpose

More generic

Opposites

nonuniversal

Word family

Forms universalizeuniversallyuniversals

Derived forms universaliseuniversalizeuniversally

Related forms general global universality universe university

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

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

universal Middle English ūniversālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# universal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 6874

## Meanings
1. Shared by or true for everyone in a group.
2. Existing or happening everywhere in the world.
3. Suitable for many different uses or purposes.
4. A quality or pattern shared by all members of a group.

## Examples
- The play opened to universal acclaim.
- Music has a universal appeal across all cultures.
- This universal tool fits screws of almost any size.
- Some form of religion seems to be a human universal.

## Synonyms
- generic

## Antonyms
- nonuniversal

## Derived Forms
- universalise
- universalize
- universally

## Related Forms
- general
- global
- universality
- universe
- university

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: universal
- Root: ūniversālis

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

## AI Etymology
Universal is from Middle English universal, from Old French universal (modern French universel), from Latin ūniversālis, equivalent to universe + -al. The historical line also includes Middle English universal, Old French universal, Latin ūniversālis. In present-day use, it can mean shared by or true for everyone in a group, or existing or happening everywhere in the world. Derived formations include universalise, universalize, universally.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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