all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose ˈȯl-ˈpər-pəs 

: suited for many purposes or uses

Synonyms

• all-around
• all-round
• catholic
• general
• general-purpose
• unlimited
• unqualified
• unrestricted
• unspecialized

Examples of all-purpose in a Sentence

there's nothing wrong with all-purpose flour for baking bread, but flour with more gluten is better

Recent Examples on the Web

These Million Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies Are the Best Version of the Classic Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025

These all-purpose jars are great for taking your chilis to work, or for measuring out cocktail ingredients for a Sazerac to sip on while doing all that Sunday afternoon meal prep. —Christopher Hastings, Bon Appétit, 13 Jan. 2025

A bit sweet from sugar, a bit acidic from vinegar, a bit spicy from hot sauce, and rounded out with neutral oil, this homemade vinaigrette recipe is the perfect all-purpose salad dressing. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

Overall, these boots are ideal for someone who needs a durable option for more rugged outdoor tasks; those in search of all-purpose winter footwear should probably look elsewhere on this list. —Avery Stone, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose

-ˈpər-pəs

: suitable for many uses

an all-purpose tool