1
: designed to conform to all shapes and sizes
one-size-fits-all T-shirts
One-size-fits-all gloves by Nolan Glove have gripper palms that are perfect for holding on …Andrea Skinner
If you are small of ear, you may find that those one-size-fits-all earbuds simply don't fit.David Pogue
2
: covering, used for, or applying to all cases or individuals without modification
This past spring, The New England Journal of Medicine published a series of articles by well-known geneticists who expressed frustration and disappointment at their inability to hit upon a one-size-fits-all genetic explanation for common diseases, which had seemed within their grasp only a few years ago.Matthew Stremlau
Levine says the old, one-size-fits-all approach allows too many youngsters to fall through the cracks—kids who may be perfectly intelligent but struggle in school.Barbara Kantrowitz et al.
Skeptics worry that patients are too varied and doctors too accustomed to providing unlimited care for a one-size-fits-all payment policy.Catherine Arnst
Where once there was the one-size-fits-all fixed-rate 30-year mortgage, now there is a bewildering assortment of home-financing arrangements …Consumer Reports

Examples of one-size-fits-all in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Choosing the best moisturizer isn't a one-size-fits-all process, experts say. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025 How pet relationships shape your mental health Our findings highlight that pet ownership is not a one-size-fits-all solution for mental health. Brian N. Chin, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025 Prescriptive one-size-fits-all mandates authored by state and county bureaucrats only hinder the ability of teachers to use their gifts. Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Feb. 2025 Some say, however, that the current concept of sobriety cannot be a one-size-fits-all model. Shiv Sudhakar, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for one-size-fits-all

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-size-fits-all was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“One-size-fits-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-size-fits-all. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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