universal
yoo-nuh-VER-suhl
/ˌjuː.nɪˈvɜː.səl/
Applicable to or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable without exception.
In social policy, 'universal' programs (like Universal Healthcare) provide benefits to all citizens regardless of their income level, in contrast to 'means-tested' programs.
The story behind the word. derived from Latin 'universus', meaning 'combined into one whole' — literally 'turned into one' ('unus' + 'vertere'). It expressed the philosophical concept of all existing matter unified into a single cosmos.
Word relationships
- comprehensive: Comprehensive means thorough or all-inclusive in scope, whereas universal means applying to every single individual without exception.
- omnipresent: Omnipresent means present everywhere physically, while universal means applicable to all cases or people.
- selective: Selective applies only to chosen individuals or targeted groups.
- means-tested: Means-tested social benefits are available only to people below a specific income threshold.
Commonly confused with
- unilateral: Unilateral means done by one side alone, whereas universal means involving or applying to everyone.
Word family
- universally (adverb): Everywhere or by everyone.
- universality (noun): The quality of being universal.
Collocations
- universal healthcare
- universal basic income
- universal suffrage
- universal access
Example sentences
- "The candidate campaigned on a platform of universal healthcare, arguing that medical coverage should be a basic right." Public Health
- "Access to clean drinking water should be treated as a universal necessity, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy." Human Rights
Memory hook
UNI (one) + VERSE (turned) = Everything turned into ONE whole. All turned into one.
When not to use
Do not use when describing programs that only apply to selective or qualified groups.
Fun facts
- Universal Basic Income (UBI) proposals trace their roots back to Thomas Paine's 1797 pamphlet 'Agrarian Justice'.
Related words
Explore more words
universalism, inclusive, absolutism, universe, utilitarian, ubiquitous
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.