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 ranked second among area 6A players in receptions with 91 and had 1,006 receiving yards, 1,307 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. —Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026

Immediately transfer to a food processor and add 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour, 1 cup (110 g) powdered sugar, and 2 tsp. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Get rid of brown grime with powder plus water, or use the sprayable Bar Keepers Friend all-purpose cleaner. —Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026

Mixing cleaning vinegar with water creates a great all-purpose cleaning solution, says Sokolowski. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 25 Jan. 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