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.
For most pet parents, design choices meant to accommodate their furry (or feathered, or scaled) friends are relatively simple ones: choosing performance materials that can withstand chewing, clawing and general-purpose romping, and color palettes that camouflage fur. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025 Prioritize platforms trained on domain-specific data and tuned for your workflows, not just general-purpose chatbots with a new label. Shahar Chen, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Apply a balanced, general-purpose flower fertilizer following the package directions. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025 Spray both top and bottom leaf surfaces at first evidence with a general-purpose insecticide labeled for control of mites. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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