cultural universal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “cultural universal” mean?
A trait, pattern, or institution that is common to all human cultures across time and geography.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A trait, pattern, or institution that is common to all human cultures across time and geography.
An element of culture—such as language, family structures, rituals, or systems of law—that is found in some form in every known human society, suggesting fundamental commonalities in the human experience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. Spelling follows regional norms: 'cultural' (both), but note '-our' vs '-or' in related words like 'behaviour/behavior'.
Connotations
Neutral, academic term. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday conversation; appears almost exclusively in academic, especially anthropological, discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “cultural universal” in a Sentence
[concept/feature] is a cultural universalAnthropologists have identified [feature] as a cultural universal.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultural universal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The search for cultural-universal principles is ongoing.
- He proposed a cultural-universal framework.
American English
- She studies cultural-universal patterns.
- A cultural-universal approach to language.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in anthropology and sociology. Used in discussions of human commonality, evolutionary psychology, and cross-cultural research.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in high-brow journalism or documentary narration.
Technical
Precise term denoting a specific concept in anthropology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cultural universal”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cultural universal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultural universal”
- Using 'cultural universal' as an adjective (e.g., 'It's very cultural universal'). It is a noun phrase. Confusing it with 'universal culture' (a single global culture).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most anthropologists classify some form of marriage or long-term pairing as a cultural universal, though its definition and form vary enormously.
They are often used synonymously, but 'human universal' can include biological traits, while 'cultural universal' is strictly limited to socially transmitted practices and institutions.
The abstract category (e.g., 'language') is universal and constant, but its concrete manifestations (specific languages) evolve and change.
By definition, a true cultural universal has no exceptions across documented human societies. Disputes arise over whether a proposed trait (e.g., religion) is truly universal in some basic form.
A trait, pattern, or institution that is common to all human cultures across time and geography.
Cultural universal is usually academic in register.
Cultural universal: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌltʃərəl juːnɪˈvɜːsəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˌjunəˈvɜrsəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'UNIversal' sounds like 'UNIque to ALL'—a paradox highlighting something unique (to culture) yet found in all.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN NATURE IS A COMMON BLUEPRINT (Cultural universals are the shared features in the blueprint.)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cultural universal' primarily used?