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

The Echo Dot Max is an entry-level, all-purpose smart speaker, while the Echo Studio is larger, pricier and offers better sound quality. —Jaures Yip,kif Leswing,annie Palmer,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 22 Nov. 2025

That was likely a result of both a record-setting freshman class and the North End Zone project taking away all-purpose seating on the Rock M hillside. —Jacob Tukker, Kansas City Star, 20 Nov. 2025

In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2025

The Antifa that Trump is always invoking as an all-purpose bogeyman—some lethal, disciplined underground network that resembles the Irish Republican Army—does not exist. —Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 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