ubiquity

USAGE SUMMARY

"ubiquity" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means something is present, or appears to be present, everywhere. For example, you could say that social media has achieved a sense of ubiquity in our lives.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So, at a time when banks are failing with some regularity, the size and ubiquity of these big banks is reassuring.

The Economist

Hitchens found Tunisia to be a "mild" place and, although he expressed disquiet at the 20 years that Ben Ali had been in power, the ubiquity of his image and the general reluctance of people to discuss politics, he was comforted by the availability of contraception, young people holding hands, and other clearly visible signs of "western values" and indifference to the puritan values of Islamism.

The Guardian

But according to Andrew Lawler, its ubiquity belies a significance that we ignore at our peril.

The Guardian - Books

Social media and the ubiquity of smartphones mean that almost any thought, no matter how small its intended audience, has the potential to go viral.

The Guardian - Opinion

Regardless of your opinion, there is no getting away from the ubiquity of hashtag – today named children's word of the year.

The Guardian - Tech

Because of the dollar's overwhelming ubiquity in the global economy it is preferred for all sorts of transactions including the ones in violation of American sanctions that were orchestrated by BNP Paribas, a French bank.

The Economist

The ubiquity of Bank of America's heavily staffed nationwide branch network is what enables it to retain customers despite charging high fees and offering depositors low interest.

The Economist

The novel manages to convey the sophistication of modern Nigeria, the ubiquity of technology even in slums and the power of intricate business networks with a godfather, or oga, at the top.

The Economist

"English is unmatched in its acronyms, such as DoD for department of defence," says Mohammed al-Basha, a spokesman for the Yemeni government, who tweets in English and Arabic.Twitter's growth around the world has reduced the proportion of total global tweets in English to 39% from two-thirds in 2009, but polyglot tweeters still often favour the language because of its ubiquity.

The Economist

And such ubiquity is surely bound, sooner or later, to attract the interest of trustbusters.

The Economist

This is symbolised by the vastly increased use of "contingent" workers and the seeming ubiquity of part-time jobs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of technology or cultural trends, use "ubiquity" to emphasize their widespread adoption and influence, such as "the ubiquity of smartphones" or "the ubiquity of social media".

Common error

Avoid using "ubiquity" when "popularity" or "commonness" is more appropriate. "Ubiquity" implies a near-universal presence, not just widespread appeal.

Linguistic Context

The word "ubiquity" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state or quality of being widespread or seemingly present everywhere. As illustrated by Ludwig's examples, it often describes the pervasive nature of technology or cultural phenomena.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ubiquity" is a noun denoting the state of being everywhere or very common. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used to describe the pervasive nature of technologies and trends. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to formal business and scientific discussions. While alternatives like "pervasiveness" and "prevalence" exist, "ubiquity" distinctly emphasizes a near-universal presence. Therefore, use "ubiquity" when you want to stress the widespread adoption and influence of something, remembering that it implies more than just simple popularity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

omnipresence

Implies a presence everywhere simultaneously, often used in a religious or philosophical context, suggesting a more absolute form of "ubiquity".

pervasiveness

Indicates a widespread presence that permeates throughout something, suggesting a more thorough or ingrained presence than mere ubiquity.

widespread presence

Directly indicates that something is found in many places, focusing on the extent of its distribution.

prevalence

Refers to the commonness or frequency of something in a particular area or context, implying statistical occurrence more than omnipresence.

universal existence

Suggests that something exists everywhere without exception, emphasizing the totality of its presence.

commonness

Highlights the ordinary or usual nature of something, suggesting it's frequently encountered and not exceptional.

extensive reach

Highlights the scope or range that something covers, emphasizing its influence or impact across a broad area.

global distribution

Indicates that something is spread across the entire world, emphasizing its worldwide occurrence.

rampant spread

Suggests that something is spreading quickly and uncontrollably, often with negative connotations.

across-the-board

Indicates that something affects or applies to everyone or everything in a particular group or situation.

FAQs

How do you use "ubiquity" in a sentence?

You can use "ubiquity" to describe something that seems to be everywhere at once. For example, "The "ubiquity of smartphones" has transformed modern communication".

What words are similar to "ubiquity"?

Similar words include "omnipresence", "pervasiveness", and "prevalence". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "something is ubiquitous"?

Yes, "ubiquitous" is the adjective form of "ubiquity", meaning something is widespread or seemingly everywhere. So, saying "something is ubiquitous" is grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "ubiquity" and "popularity"?

"Ubiquity" refers to the state of being everywhere or very common, while "popularity" refers to the state of being liked or well-received by many people. Something can be popular without being ubiquitous, and vice versa.