What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

National vs Universal - What's the difference?

national | universal |

As adjectives the difference between national and universal

is that national is of or having to do with a nation while universal is of or pertaining to the universe.

As nouns the difference between national and universal

is that national is a subject of a nation while universal is a characteristic or property that particular things have in common.

national

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or having to do with a nation.
  • (by extension) Of or having to do with a country (sovereign state).
    • Import tariffs were raised for the national interest.

    Usage notes

    See nation'' for notes regarding the usage of ''national to refer to the UK and its member states.

    Derived terms

    * international * nationally * nationalistic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A subject of a nation.
    • The diplomats were advised not to interact with any foreign nationals except on official duty.
  • (usually, in the plural) A tournament in which participants from all over the nation compete.
    • After winning the regional tournament, the team advanced to the nationals .

    External links

    * * ----

    universal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the universe.
  • Common to all members of a group or class.
  • *
  • *
  • Common to all society; world-wide
    • She achieved universal fame.
  • Cosmic; unlimited; vast; infinite
  • Useful for many purposes, e.g., universal wrench .

    • Derived terms

    * universalise, universalize * universal quantifier

    Related terms

    * universe * university

    Antonyms

    * nonuniversal

    See also

    * (wikipedia "universal") * general * global

    External links

    * *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (philosophy) A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.
  • *
  • * {{quote-book, year=1970, title=Speech acts, author=John R. Searle
    • , passage=We might also distinguish those expressions which are used to refer to individuals or particulars from those which are used to refer to what philosophers have called universals : e.g., to distinguish such expressions as "Everest" and "this chair" from "the number three", "the color red" and "drunkenness". citation

    See also

    * particular

    External links

    * * The Medieval Problem of Universals - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ----