multipurpose
/mʌltipɝpəs/adjective
multipurpose is spelled M-U-L-T-I-P-U-R-P-O-S-E: 12 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,789th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, multipurpose means “Designed or intended to fit more than one type of function or application; having multiple uses” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in multipurpose?
| Letters | 12: M-U-L-T-I-P-U-R-P-O-S-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 30,789th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is multipurpose?
Multipurpose appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,789th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce multipurpose?
- US /mʌltipɝpəs/
Multipurpose has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Neøn-multipurpose.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with multipurpose
Also written: multi-purpose (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of multipurpose
- multi-purpose
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does multipurpose mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Designed or intended to fit more than one type of function or application; having multiple uses.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Multipurpose in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense having multiple uses:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | polyvalent, multifonction, multi-usages, à usages multiples |
| German | mehrzweck- |
| Portuguese | multiúso, multiúsos |
| Spanish | multipropósito |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does multipurpose come from?
From multi- + purpose.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).