The adjective "global" and adverb "globally" imply that the verb or noun to which they are applied applies to the entire Earth and all of its species and regions. It is sometimes used as a synonym for the much narrower international/internationally but this is incorrect:

  • Only two nations need to be involved to make something international, but, presumably, all must be potentially involved before it becomes truly global
  • Nations are concerned wholly and only with humanity's concerns, and that usually in a narrow time frame, whereas there are many global concerns that transcend species or generations.

The term "world" is also sometimes used when humanity rather than the Earth is concerned.

See also: racial, social, political, Earth, globalization


In Canada, Global often refers to the Global Television Network.


In computer programming, global means accessible throughout the whole program. The most common global objects are probably global variables, considered undesirable by some.