general-purpose

adjective

gen·​er·​al-pur·​pose ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs 

ˈje-nə-

: suitable to be used for two or more basic purposes

Synonyms of general-purpose

• unlimited
• general
• unrestricted

Examples of general-purpose in a Sentence

a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs

Recent Examples on the Web

An additional general-purpose room can be used as a secondary lounge space, an office, or a gym. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

As the buses use the bus-only lane, drivers should use the outer general-purpose lanes. — Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

But a general-purpose agent that doesn’t know the difference between a tenant requirement and a lease comp, or can’t parse NNN from FSG, adds friction instead of removing it. — Wesley D. Snow, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Companies are betting that humanoid robots can eventually become general-purpose, autonomous robots that can handle many different tasks and fit more easily into workplaces already designed for humans. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for general-purpose

• multipurpose
• purpose