general-purpose

adjective

gen·​er·​al-pur·​pose ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce general-purpose (audio)
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
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.
While Nvidia's GPUs are versatile general-purpose processors, TPUs act like specialized scalpels optimized for AI workloads. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 However, the current crop of general-purpose humanoids tends to target moderate loads, similar to an average person, because higher payloads complicate balance and actuator sizing. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 The first general-purpose credit cards came out in 1958, when Bank of America mailed them to shoppers across California. Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025 Homes involve a long tail of chores, and general-purpose robots could indeed provide enormous value. Maya Cakmak, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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