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Retirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company contributions made to other non U S post-retirement plans		$ 13,000,000	$ 12,000,000	$ 12,000,000
Methods used to amortize net gains and losses in defined benefit plan		Amortize cumulative actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10% of the larger of the market-related value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation over the expected future service of active participants.
Effect of one-quarter percentage point increase in discount rate on net periodic benefit cost		Less than $1 million
Effect of one-quarter percentage point increase in return on assets on net periodic benefit cost		Less than $1 million
Waters Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, settlement charge	$ 46,000,000	$ 46,000,000
Defined benefit plan, settlement charge, cash contribution	6,000,000	6,000,000
Defined benefit plan, settlement charge, non-cash	40,000,000	$ 40,000,000
Defined benefit plan, settlement charge, net income per diluted share		$ (0.39)
U S Pension Plans And U S Retiree Healthcare Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan diversification		Investments are diversified among market capitalization and investment strategy, and targets a 20% allocation of the equity portfolio to be invested in financial markets outside of the United States.
U S Defined Contribution Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employee 401(k) contributions as % of salary, upper range limit		60.00%
Company 401(k) matching contribution rate as % of employee contribution		100.00%
Company 401(k) matching contribution limit as % of salary		6.00%
Annual vesting percentage on employee 401(k) contributions		100.00%
Company contributions to defined contribution plans		$ 17,000,000	$ 16,000,000	$ 15,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in current fiscal year	3,000,000	3,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in current fiscal year	$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000

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Description of alternative method used to amortize gain (loss) for defined benefit plan.

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