Phrase guide

universal joint

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A coupling that allows different parts of a machine not in line with each other some freedom of movement at the same time as transmitting rotary motion. Typical applications include driveshafts and socket wrenches.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: U-joint, universal coupling, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, Hooke's joint

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

coupling that connects two rotating shafts allowing freedom of movement in all directions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • in motor vehicles a universal joint allows the driveshaft to move up and down as the vehicle passes over bumps

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: universal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coupling, coupler

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: карда́н (kardán) — type of coupling
  • Chinese Mandarin: 萬向節 /万向节 (wànxiàngjié) — type of coupling
  • Danish: kardanled — type of coupling
  • Finnish: kardaaninivel — type of coupling
  • French: cardan — type of coupling
  • French: joint de Cardan — type of coupling
  • Hungarian: kardáncsukló — type of coupling
  • Ido: universala charniro — type of coupling
  • Polish: przegub krzyżakowy — type of coupling
  • Polish: przegub Cardana — type of coupling
  • Polish: kardan — type of coupling
  • Romanian: cardan — type of coupling
  • Russian: карда́нная переда́ча (kardánnaja peredáča) — type of coupling
  • Spanish: coyuntura cardánica — type of coupling
  • Swedish: kardanknut — type of coupling
  • Ukrainian: карда́нна переда́ча (kardánna peredáča) — type of coupling
  • Welsh: cymal cyffredinol — type of coupling