general-purpose
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of general-purpose
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Less than half of general-purpose law-enforcement agencies had acquired body cameras in 2016, and many hadn’t equipped front-line officers with them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The commission described an "urgent need" to protect a "growing market for general-purpose AI assistants" and give space for smaller players and new entrants to challenge large incumbents.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
The EU said it began its investigation, in December 2025, after Meta banned third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the WhatsApp for Business API.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
They are far less popular in America, even as meat-producers, than the general-purpose breeds.
From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Burkett, Charles William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
