Noun

Singular purpose

Plural purposes

purpose (plural purposes)

1. An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal.
2. A result that is desired; an intention.
3. The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.
4. The subject of discourse; the point at issue.
5. The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

Synonyms

• (target): aim, goal, object, target
• (intention): aim, plan, intention
• (determination): determination, intention, resolution
• (subject of discourse): matter, subject, topic
• (reason for doing something): reason
• See also Wikisaurus:goal

Derived terms

• all-purpose
• common purpose
• cross-purpose
• fit for purpose
• for all intents and purposes
• game with a purpose
• general-purpose
• infinitive of purpose
• multi-purpose

• purpose-built
• purposeful
• purposeless
• purpose-like
• purpose loan
• purposely
• purpose statement
• on purpose

Purpose is the cognitive awareness in cause and effect linking for achieving a goal in a given system, whether human or machine. Its most general sense is the anticipated result which guides decision making in choosing appropriate actions within a range of strategies in the process (a conceptual scheme) based on varying degrees of ambiguity about the knowledge that creates the contextualisation for the action. Purpose serves to change the state of conditions in a given environment, usually to one with a perceived better set of conditions or parameters from the previous state. This change is the motivation that serves the locus of control and goal orientation. In psychology and psychiatry, the experience of lacking a purpose in one's life is known as accidy.

First attested in c.1290, from earl Old French porpos "aim, intention", purpose is related to from porposer "to put forth," from Vulgar Latin corruption of por- "forth" (Latin pro- "forth") and Old French poser "to put, place". Purpose is related to the term pose used from 1374 as to "put in a certain position," or "suggest, propose, suppose, assume," a term use in Late Latin debating (c.300–c.700) from pausare "to halt, rest, pause".

Unsourced

• "Our purpose is to understand that our purpose is to understand our purpose." ~ David Packouz
• "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." ~ Eric Liddell
• "Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain." ~ Curtis Mayfield
• "We are here on Earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don't know." ~ W.H. Auden

At work

• "I would rather work with five people who really believe in what they are doing rather than five hundred who can't see the point" - Patrick Dixon - Building a Better Business p 14

• "Purpose Lives, Hope Dies" Scott Thomson