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

At the time of the launch, the lineup included all-purpose cleaners, dish soaps, hand washes, hand cream and candles, much of which was Made in Italy. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025

Dust the mushrooms with a bit of all-purpose flour and stir to incorporate before gradually adding in chicken stock. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025

Some all-purpose cleaners are formulated with soaps, oils, and other ingredients to cut through grease and grime. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025

Bubbles make almost every drink better (especially a bottle of bad rosé), and the Breville InFizz Fusion is a stylish, all-purpose sparkling beverage maker that will carbonate so much more than just water. —Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025

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