general-purpose
adjective
gen·er·al-pur·pose
ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs 
ˈje-nə-
: suitable to be used for two or more basic purposes
Examples of general-purpose in a Sentence
a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, recommends using a general-purpose potting mix.
—
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
In contrast to task-specific systems like Isaac 0, companies such as Figure AI have developed general-purpose humanoids, such as the Figure 02, designed to handle a wide range of industrial and household tasks rather than specializing in a single task.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The curve refers to the idea that general-purpose technologies like AI don’t produce immediate benefits.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For context, this machine was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer.
—CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
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Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
In contrast to task-specific systems like Isaac 0, companies such as Figure AI have developed general-purpose humanoids, such as the Figure 02, designed to handle a wide range of industrial and household tasks rather than specializing in a single task.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The curve refers to the idea that general-purpose technologies like AI don’t produce immediate benefits.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For context, this machine was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer.
—CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
Cite this Entry
“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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