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general-purpose

American

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

adjective

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

a good general-purpose dictionary.

general-purpose British

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

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 is, in one sense, an advantage over competitors like Nvidia, which offer more general-purpose chips.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

As a general-purpose technology, artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into every facet of the business world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

They are far less popular in America, even as meat-producers, than the general-purpose breeds.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Charles William Burkett

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023