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.
Most students today use general-purpose chatbots that are not designed as tutors. Saharnaz Babaei-Balderlou, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026 Most students today use general-purpose chatbots that are not designed as tutors. Shishir Shakya, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026 Imagine general-purpose humanoids becoming as ubiquitous as smartphones, doing household chores, taking care of our parents, and taking over tasks that humans don’t want. Eric Schmidt, Time, 3 Mar. 2026 McKinsey projects the market for general-purpose robots could reach $370 billion by 2040, while analysts at RBC Capital Markets have forecast a global total addressable market for humanoids of $9 trillion by 2050. Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 3 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 11 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster