Which term literally means 'universal'?

Which term literally means 'universal'?

• A. Universalist
• B. Worldwide
• C. Global
• D. Catholic

Answer: (D)

The word you’re looking at comes from roots that mean “including all” or “the whole.” Catholic comes from the Greek katholikos, which literally means universal or general. It was used to describe the church as something that belongs to everyone, everywhere, not just a local group. That literal sense of universal is baked into the term, which is why it’s the best answer. Other options signal broad reach in everyday language—worldwide or global—but they don’t carry the exact root meaning of universal. A universalist is a believer or advocate of universal salvation, which is a related idea but not the literal meaning of the word’s origin.

The word you’re looking at comes from roots that mean “including all” or “the whole.” Catholic comes from the Greek katholikos, which literally means universal or general. It was used to describe the church as something that belongs to everyone, everywhere, not just a local group. That literal sense of universal is baked into the term, which is why it’s the best answer.

Other options signal broad reach in everyday language—worldwide or global—but they don’t carry the exact root meaning of universal. A universalist is a believer or advocate of universal salvation, which is a related idea but not the literal meaning of the word’s origin.