general-purpose

American  

[jen-er-uhl-pur-puhs] / ˈdʒɛn ər əlˈpɜr pəs /

adjective

1. useful in many ways; not limited in use or function.

   a good general-purpose dictionary.

---

general-purpose British  

adjective

1. having a range of uses or applications; not restricted to one function

---

Etymology

Origin of general-purpose

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

general-purpose

Unlike general-purpose DRAM, HBM is a specialized type of memory that is faster and more power-efficient, making it ideal for artificial intelligence.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

That was the real moment of transition, from an application to a general-purpose technology anyone could use.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Legacy uses the same general-purpose machines available to other businesses willing to invest in the equipment, and no printers are marketed exclusively for Hollywood, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026

If AI models turn out to be a general-purpose technology like the automobile or electricity, what can the leading AI labs uniquely offer?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

The one shown at the upper left-hand is considered by Roberts, in his "Fertility of the Land," to be the ideal general-purpose plow, as respects shape and method of construction.

From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by L. H. (Liberty Hyde) Bailey