General vs. Universal — What's the Difference?

Affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread

Of, relating to, or affecting the entire universe

Considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed

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

Chief or principal

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

A commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.

Adapted or adjustable to many sizes, uses, or devices

The general public.

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

Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category

A universal proposition.

Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent

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

Of or affecting the entire body

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

Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all

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

Not limited in scope, area, or application

Of or pertaining to the universe.

Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified

Common to all members of a group or class.

Involving only the main features rather than precise details

Common to all society; worldwide.

Highest or superior in rank

Unlimited; vast; infinite.

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant general.

Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

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

A general officer.

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.

A statement, principle, or fact that embraces or is applicable to the whole.

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

General anesthesia.

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

(Archaic) The public.

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.

Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular.

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

Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.

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

Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.

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

Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.

Of worldwide scope or applicability;

Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.

Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area.

A general fact or proposition; a generality.

(military ranks) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.

A great strategist or tactician.

(Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.

(nautical) A commander of naval forces; an admiral.

A general servant; a maid with no specific duties.

(countable) A general anesthetic.

(uncountable) General anesthesia.

The general insurance industry.

(xiangqi) A xiangqi piece, that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace.

To lead (soldiers) as a general.

(obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.

Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy.

Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion.

Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression.

Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom.

Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire.

As a whole; in gross; for the most part.

Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method.

The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; - opposed to particular.

One of the chief military officers of a government or country; the commander of an army, of a body of men not less than a brigade. In European armies, the highest military rank next below field marshal.

The roll of the drum which calls the troops together; as, to beat the general.

The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations under the same rule.

The public; the people; the vulgar.

A general officer of the highest rank

The head of a religious order or congregation

A fact about the whole (as opposed to particular);

Command as a general;

Applying to all or most members of a category or group;

Not specialized or limited to one class of things;

Of national scope;

Prevailing among and common to the general public;

Affecting the entire body;

Somewhat indefinite;

Of worldwide scope or applicability;