all-purpose

adjective

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

Synonyms of all-purpose

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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.
Try it with any interesting spice blend in your pantry, or whip up a batch of this all-purpose mix, made with salt and pepper, plus garlic and onion powders, paprika, and celery seeds. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 26 June 2026 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, 2 July 2026 Unlike all-purpose white flour, which has had its oil largely removed during processing, whole grain flours and whole grains retain their natural fats from the nutrient-rich wheat germ. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026 Dell Slim Desktop Deal Dell's got the desktops, too, and this massive price cut on the all-purpose Dell Slim tower is well worth your time. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 June 2026 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

Rhymes for all-purpose

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Browse Nearby Words

All-Pro
all-purpose
all-purpose flour
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Cite this Entry

“All-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-purpose. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of all-purpose for Spanish Speakers

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