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

Smith-Njigba’s 1,829 all-purpose yards ranked ninth in the NFL in 2025. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Morton kosher salt, and 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour in a large bowl. — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026

Honor Fa’alave-Johnson of Cathedral Catholic is on the first team as an all-purpose player. — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Safer alternatives, such as natural all-purpose cleaners, can also reduce the risk of hazardous chemical reactions. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 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