all-purpose

adjective

all-pur·​pose ˈȯl-ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce all-purpose (audio)
: suited for many purposes or uses

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
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.
Our all-purpose dough recipe is a great place to start. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2024 Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, cream of tartar, and 1/2 teaspoon of the nutmeg in a medium bowl until combined. Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024 Chase Brown meanwhile racked up 123 all-purpose yards and a touchdown of his own. Kevin Dotson, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024 Gorgeous color, contrast and speedy response time coupled with the easy-to-use Google TV platform make this an all-purpose display that will shine in any room. K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for all-purpose 

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-purpose was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near all-purpose

Cite this Entry

“All-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-purpose. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

all-purpose

adjective
all-pur·​pose
-ˈpər-pəs
: suitable for many uses
an all-purpose tool

More from Merriam-Webster on all-purpose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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