What does ubiquitous mean?
Ubiquitous is an adjective meaning present everywhere or found in every part of everyday life. It can describe physical objects, technologies, ideas, behaviors, or qualities that have become extremely widespread. For example, mobile phones may be called ubiquitous because they are owned and used by people across almost every segment of society. The word often carries the additional implication that something is so familiar that it is easy to overlook. Ubiquitous is related to the noun ubiquity, meaning widespread presence, and to the Latin ubique, meaning everywhere. In contemporary writing, the word is especially common in discussions of technology, commerce, media, and social trends. Although it is broadly understandable in British and American English, it can become repetitive or inflated when used too often or when describing something that is merely frequent rather than genuinely present everywhere.
adjectivePresent, appearing, or found everywhere. Ubiquitous describes something so widespread or familiar that it seems to exist in every place or part of everyday life.
- Present or found everywhere; omnipresent.
"Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society."
"The company has become ubiquitous in the market through aggressive advertising."
"The reporter described misinformation as ubiquitous online."
"Wireless internet access is now ubiquitous in public libraries."
If something is ubiquitous, it has escaped the corner shop and colonized the entire planet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ubiquitous
Ubiquitous comes from the Latin ubiquitus, meaning “everywhere” or “omnipresent,” which was derived from ubique, “everywhere,” related to ubi, “where.” The word entered English in the early nineteenth century and developed into the familiar adjective used today.
Related word forms
How ubiquitous is actually used
Ubiquitous is appropriate in formal and informal registers, but it can sound overstated or clichéd when applied to merely common things. It is especially common in journalism, academic writing, and descriptions of technology and culture.
Easily confused with ubiquitous
Ubiquitous is an adjective describing something present everywhere, whereas ubiquity is a noun meaning the condition of being present everywhere.