allaround

Allaround is a term used to describe versatility across multiple domains. It is formed from the combination of all and around and is commonly hyphenated as all-around when used as an adjective.

In sports, an all-around athlete competes across multiple events and is evaluated on overall performance, rather than excelling in a single discipline. The label is also used more broadly to describe competitors or teams that perform well across a range of skills.

In everyday usage, an all-around person is considered well-rounded, capable in several areas such as academics, arts, and sports, rather than highly specialized in one field. In consumer language, products or services described as all-around are marketed as versatile or comprehensive, offering multiple functions or broad coverage.

Critics note that the label can be vague or promotional if not supported by evidence of breadth across domains. The term is related to synonyms such as versatile, well-rounded, multipurpose, and polymath, and it is often used in educational, professional, and marketing contexts to convey breadth of ability or function.

See also: well-rounded; versatile; polymath; Renaissance person; multipurpose.