all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose ˈȯl-ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce all-purpose (audio)
: suited for many purposes or uses

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At this point, AGI is largely rhetorical—a fantastical, all-purpose excuse for OpenAI to continue pushing for ever more wealth and power. Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025 Then, apply all-purpose cleaner to a clean cloth and wipe the grille clean. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025 At 6 feet 1 and 225 pounds, the former Iowa back led the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,537), rushing touchdowns (21) and all-purpose yards (1,725). Mike Defabo, New York Times, 12 May 2025 Using in place of all-purpose flour: Make sure to use self-rising flour in recipes that call for it. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for all-purpose

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-purpose was in 1867

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-purpose. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

all-purpose

adjective
all-pur·​pose
-ˈpər-pəs
: suitable for many uses
an all-purpose tool

More from Merriam-Webster on all-purpose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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