general-purpose

[/ˈdʒɛnərəl ˈpɜrpəs/]
adjective
de uso geral
1. designed or suitable for many different uses or functions rather than for a specific purpose
A general-purpose knife can be used for slicing, dicing, and chopping.
Uma faca de uso geral pode ser usada para fatiar, picar e cortar.
2. in computing, describing software or hardware that can perform multiple tasks without specialization
The company purchased general-purpose computers for the office.
A empresa comprou computadores de uso geral para o escritório.
3. applicable or useful in most situations or contexts
General-purpose cleaning solutions work on most surfaces.
As soluções de limpeza de uso geral funcionam na maioria das superfícies.
In both American English and Brazilian Portuguese, 'general-purpose' is commonly used in technical, commercial, and everyday contexts to describe products that offer flexibility and broad applicability. In Brazil, 'multiuso' is often preferred in marketing and consumer product contexts, while 'de uso geral' is more formal and technical. This term reflects modern consumer preferences for versatile, multi-functional products that provide value across different applications.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
versatilemultipurposeall-purposeuniversalflexible
Antonyms / Antônimos
specializedspecific-purposededicatedsingle-purpose

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
de uso geral
Most common translation used in technical and everyday contexts
General Brazilian
multiuso
Informal alternative, commonly used for consumer products
Portugal
de uso geral
Standard translation used similarly to Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal
polivalente
More formal alternative, emphasizing versatility

Related Words

multipurposeversatilityfunctionalityapplicationutilityspecialization

Related Idioms & Phrases

jack of all trades
fit for all seasons
one size fits all
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