general-purpose

adjective

gen·er·al-pur·pose ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs

ˈje-nə-

Synonyms of general-purpose next

: 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.

Yet no functioning general-purpose web agent is available on the market today. —

Rob Toews, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024 That gave Sammet the opportunity to work with computing pioneer Grace Hopper on the UNIVAC I, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer manufactured in the United States. —

IEEE Spectrum, 15 Dec. 2024 As an alternative, use liquid laundry detergent, a general-purpose stain remover, or high-quality dish soap for spot-treatment. —

Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024 Energy efficiency can also be improved, while performance can also be optimized better compared to general-purpose GPUs provided by the likes of Nvidia and AMD. —

Trefis Team, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation