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.
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 Indeed, Nvidia relies on more general-purpose CPUs for some of its products. Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026 The company says specialized hardware can handle its massive AI workloads more efficiently than general-purpose chips. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026 The shortage would not be of general-purpose semiconductors, or microcontrollers, that caused plant shutdowns, low vehicle inventories, disabled features and higher prices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Breana Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 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 22 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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