global
Pluralglobals
- 1Having to do with the whole world.
Like a rule that everyone in the whole world has to follow.
Climate change is a global problem that affects every country.
The company opened global offices on every continent.
UsageOften in global warming and on a global scale.
Similarworldwide, international, universal
Oppositelocal
- 2About the whole of something, not just one part of it.
Like looking at a whole cake instead of just one slice.
We need a global fix that repairs the whole system at once.
The new rule made a global change across the entire company.
UsageOften a global change. If people might think you mean the world, say overall.
Note
- 3In a way that reaches or affects the whole world.
Like news that spreads to every country at once.
Even a small shop can think global when it starts selling online.
Our teacher told us to think global and act local in our science project.
UsageMostly in think global. Otherwise say globally.
Similarworldwide, internationally
Oppositelocally
Note
Less common meanings
- 4In computer programs, able to be used by every part of the code.
Like a shared notebook that everyone in the office can write in.
A global variable can be changed by any part of the program.
We made the counter global so every function could read it.
UsageOften a global variable. The opposite is local.
Oppositelocal
Note
- 5In computer code, a name that the whole program can use.
Like a sign in a hallway that everyone passing by can read.
The programmer stored the setting in a global, so every file could read it.
Too many globals can make the code messy and hard to follow.
Oppositelocal
Note
- 6Having to do with a globe or a ball shape.
- 7Shaped like a ball and round like a sphere.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of global apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From the word "globe" plus the ending "-al." It is like the French word "global."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Global is formed from globe and the suffix -al. en.wiktionary.org
- French global has a comparable formation. fr.wiktionary.org