general-purpose

adjective

gen·​er·​al-pur·​pose ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce general-purpose (audio)
ˈje-nə-
Synonyms of general-purposenext
: suitable to be used for two or more basic purposes

Examples of general-purpose in a Sentence

a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs
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.
Congress designed the law for emergencies affecting the nation’s financial system, not as a general-purpose tool to impose sweeping tariffs. Ori Zohar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 The Maryland city said in a complaint filed in Baltimore Circuit Court that xAI is violating its consumer protection statute by promoting Grok as a safe, general-purpose artificial intelligence assistant for everyday people. Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, CPUs run general-purpose tasks sequentially, which is key in a world where agents are being designed to carry out specific actions. Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026 Fertilize this plant monthly from spring to fall with any general-purpose houseplant fertilizer at half-strength. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for general-purpose

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of general-purpose was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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