universal
universal — adjective
1. relating to all people or places without exception; found or happening throughou
relating to all people or places without exception; found or happening throughout the world or across a whole group.
After the earthquake destroyed their homes, the survivors felt a universal human need for safety.
collocation: universal human need
The proposal received universal support from the committee members.
Mizuki argues that access to clean water should be a universal right.
To halt rising sea levels, countries around the world must make a universal effort to cut carbon emissions.
Evelyn found universal support among the 200 employees for the new holiday policy.
- global
focuses on physical or geographic scope (e.g. global economy) rather than affecting all people
- widespread
less formal; means found in many places but not necessarily everywhere
- general
broader and less emphatic; suggests what is true for most but not all
- local
restricted to one area or group
- particular
referring to a specific person, place, or thing rather than all
文法句型
universal + noun
用法筆記
Commonly appears before nouns such as right, need, law, agreement, or principle. In everyday conversation, synonyms like 'widespread' or 'general' are often preferred.
常見錯誤
2. designed to work with many different devices, systems, or uses — for example, a
designed to work with many different devices, systems, or uses — for example, a charger that fits phones from multiple brands.
This is a universal charger that works with phones from most brands.
collocation: universal charger
The remote control uses a universal code that works on many TV models.
Rodrigo bought a universal adapter so his devices would work in any country.
Mei-Lin built the app with a universal interface that works on phones, tablets, and desktops.
- all-purpose
more informal; common in everyday language for tools and cleaners
- versatile
emphasises flexibility in function rather than cross-brand compatibility
文法句型
universal + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in product names and technical descriptions for chargers, adapters, remotes, and software that work across multiple systems or brands. Avoid using for one-time or single-purpose items.
常見錯誤
universal — noun
1. a general idea, quality, or statement in logic or philosophy that applies to eve
a general idea, quality, or statement in logic or philosophy that applies to every member of a group or class.
In philosophy, beauty is often treated as a universal rather than a personal opinion.
countable noun in philosophy
Logic students learn to tell the difference between a universal and a particular statement.
Omar argued that the idea of goodness is a universal that appears in every culture.
Professor Nakamura asked the class whether 'justice' names a real universal or only a human invention.
- general concept
less technical; broader in academic use
- category
focuses on classification rather than universality
- particular
a single, individual instance or member
文法句型
a/the universal + verb
universal of + noun
用法筆記
A technical term in philosophy and logic. Unlikely to appear in everyday conversation. Contrasts with 'particular' — a universal describes what all members of a class share, while a particular describes a single instance.
常見錯誤
2. a behaviour, institution, or practice that exists in every human society without
a behaviour, institution, or practice that exists in every human society without exception or is shared by everyone within a given social group.
Marriage is widely considered a cultural universal because it exists in every known society.
collocation: cultural universal
Chidi studies whether drumming patterns are a universal found in every human society.
An anthropology team in Nairobi is debating whether fear of strangers is a true cultural universal.
Tara's research focuses on emotional expressions that are true culture universals.
- cultural constant
emphasises continuity across time rather than across societies
- culture-specific trait
a feature found only in one or a few societies
文法句型
cultural universal
human universal
用法筆記
A technical term in anthropology and sociology. 'Cultural universal' is the most common collocation. Not all features found in many societies qualify — a universal must be present in every known society without exception.