global

adjective

glob·​al ˈglō-bəl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or involving the entire world : worldwide

a global system of communication

global economic problems

global warfare

see also global village, global warming

b

: of or relating to a spherical celestial body (such as the moon)

For the Moon, the early formation of global crust was accompanied and succeeded for several hundred million years by a massive influx of projectiles …

—James W. Head

2

: of, relating to, or applying to a whole (such as a mathematical function or a computer program) : universal

a global search of a file

Global search and replace can be harnessed to make this correction throughout the file almost instantaneously.

—Shay Addams

3

of a medical condition : being particularly severe or encompassing in nature : having or exhibiting a broad or nearly complete effect

… West suffered a stroke that left him with global aphasia: an inability to produce words or to understand words spoken to him.

—Alison McCulloch

The two other cases presented with milder characteristics, displaying global developmental delay and seizures.

—The Albany (Georgia) Herald

4

: having the shape of a globe : spherical

a global mass

globally

ˈglō-bə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• across-the-board
• blanket
• broad-brush
• common
• general
• generic
• overall
• universal

Examples of global in a Sentence

English is becoming a global language.

The program allows users to do global searches through all the available data.

Recent Examples on the Web

If your brand is expanding internationally, a consultant with global expertise can be invaluable. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

The studio will be dedicated to focusing on genre and international films from filmmakers of color, recognizing a growing demand among young audiences for original films and narratives with a distinct global perspective. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2024

There’s no slowing down for Kylie who, in the early months of 2025, embarks on a global tour. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024

This international experience deepened his cultural understanding and gave him a global perspective on business and technology. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see globe entry 1

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing global

• global village
• global warming
• on a global scale

Kids Definition

global

adjective

glob·​al ˈglō-bəl 

1

: spherical

2

: worldwide

global war

3

: of, relating to, or applying to the whole of something (as a computer program)

a global search through the data

globally

-bə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

global

adjective

glob·​al ˈglō-bəl 

1

: having the shape of a globe

2

a

: of, relating to, or involving the entire world

global health conditions

b

: of, relating to, or involving the globe of the eye

global anesthesia in cataract surgery

3

of a medical condition : being particularly severe or encompassing in nature : having or exhibiting a broad or nearly complete effect

… West suffered a stroke that left him with global aphasia: an inability to produce words or to understand words spoken to him.

—Alison McCulloch

4

a

: being comprehensive, all-inclusive, or complete

global obstetric care

transient global amnesia

Akinesia was global, although rigidity and dystonia were strikingly unilateral in distribution.

—Oliver Sacks

b

: of, relating to, or constituting an organic whole : organismic

… the newer psychiatry seeks to understand in a global way the dynamic structure of the patient's personality …

—Psychological Abstracts

globally

-bə-lē 

adverb