all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose ˈȯl-ˈpər-pəs 

: suited for many purposes or uses

Synonyms of all-purpose

• unlimited
• general
• general-purpose

Examples of all-purpose in a Sentence

there's nothing wrong with all-purpose flour for baking bread, but flour with more gluten is better

Recent Examples on the Web

Darience Coleman rushed for 160 yards and had 232 all-purpose yards. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 10 Sep. 2026

All-Purpose Cleaner A trusty all-purpose cleaner is a necessity for wiping down kitchen or bathroom surfaces, appliances, cabinets, and more. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2026

In general, the ratio of ingredients should be 1 teaspoon of baking powder for 1 cup of all-purpose flour, although this can vary depending on the recipe and other ingredients. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026

Riley, who finished with 232 all-purpose yards Friday, provided the jolts early as the Blackhawks used big plays to counter the grind-it-out attack used by Streamwood. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for all-purpose

• multipurpose
• purpose

Kids Definition

all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose

-ˈpər-pəs

: suitable for many uses

an all-purpose tool