Universal vs. Versatile — What's the Difference?

Of, relating to, or affecting the entire universe

Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities

Including, relating to, or affecting all members of the class or group under consideration; applicable in all cases

Changeable; inconstant.

Done, produced, or shared by all members of the class or group under consideration

Capable of doing many things competently.

Adapted or adjustable to many sizes, uses, or devices

Having varied uses or serving many functions

(Logic)Encompassing all of the members of a class or group. Used of a proposition.

Variable or inconstant; changeable

A universal proposition.

(Biology) Capable of moving freely in all directions, as the loosely attached anthers of certain flowers.

A general or abstract concept or term considered absolute or axiomatic.

Capable of doing many things competently.

A general or widely held principle, concept, or notion.

Having varied uses or many functions.

A trait or pattern of behavior characteristic of all the members of a particular culture or of all humans.

Changeable or inconstant.

Of or pertaining to the universe.

(biology) Capable of moving freely in all directions.

Common to all members of a group or class.

(gay slang) Capable of taking either a penetrative (top) or receptive (bottom) role in anal sex.

Common to all society; worldwide.

(BDSM) Being a switch; capable of taking either a dominant or a submissive role.

Unlimited; vast; infinite.

Capable of being turned round.

Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.

Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; inconstant; as, a versatile disposition.

(philosophy) A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.

Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided; as, versatile genius; a versatile politician.

Of or pertaining to the universe; extending to, including, or affecting, the whole number, quantity, or space; unlimited; general; all-reaching; all-pervading; as, universal ruin; universal good; universal benevolence or benefice.

Capable of turning; freely movable; as, a versatile anther, which is fixed at one point to the filament, and hence is very easily turned around; a versatile toe of a bird.

Constituting or considered as a whole; total; entire; whole; as, the universal world.

(used of persons) having many skills

Adapted or adaptable to all or to various uses, shapes, sizes, etc.; as, a universal milling machine.

Having great diversity or variety;

Forming the whole of a genus; relatively unlimited in extension; affirmed or denied of the whole of a subject; as, a universal proposition; - opposed to particular; e. g. (universal affirmative) All men are animals; (universal negative) No men are omniscient.

Changeable or inconstant;

The whole; the general system of the universe; the universe.

Competent in many areas and able to turn with ease from one thing to another;

A general abstract conception, so called from being universally applicable to, or predicable of, each individual or species contained under it.

Able to move freely in all directions;

Coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom of movement in all directions;

Of worldwide scope or applicability;