general-purpose
adjective
gen·er·al-pur·pose
ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs 
ˈje-nə-
: 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
In contrast to task-specific systems like Isaac 0, companies such as Figure AI have developed general-purpose humanoids, such as the Figure 02, designed to handle a wide range of industrial and household tasks rather than specializing in a single task.
—
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The curve refers to the idea that general-purpose technologies like AI don’t produce immediate benefits.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For context, this machine was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer.
—CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
But with the special joy of someone paid to complicate everything, Goolsbee pointed out that general-purpose technologies such as electricity and computing can create lasting productivity gains, the kind that make whole societies wealthier.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
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Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The curve refers to the idea that general-purpose technologies like AI don’t produce immediate benefits.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For context, this machine was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer.
—CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
But with the special joy of someone paid to complicate everything, Goolsbee pointed out that general-purpose technologies such as electricity and computing can create lasting productivity gains, the kind that make whole societies wealthier.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
Cite this Entry
“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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