Meaning & use
fit to purpose
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
Suitable or appropriate for the purpose or use intended.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem': The design is fit to purpose. No object.
Patterns
- be fit to purpose
- seem fit to purpose
- make something fit to purpose
The new software is fit to purpose and meets all our needs.
We need to ensure the equipment is fit to purpose before buying.
The building was not fit to purpose, so we had to renovate.
Common combinations
- be fit to purpose
- The tool is fit to purpose for small repairs.
- make something fit to purpose
- We modified the plan to make it fit to purpose.
- perfectly fit to purpose
- The simple design is perfectly fit to purpose.
Synonyms and how they differ
- suitable
- Suitable is more general; fit to purpose specifically means suitable for the intended function.
- appropriate
- Appropriate means right for the situation; fit to purpose focuses on usefulness for a specific aim.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fit to purpose or fit for purpose?
fit to purpose vs fit for purpose
This is a similar phrase but often used in legal contexts to mean legally acceptable. 'Fit to purpose' is more about practical suitability.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using 'fit to purpose'.
Choose one answer.
'Fit to purpose' is a fixed phrase used with 'be': The design is fit to purpose. Option 1 is correct. Option 2 uses 'fits', which is a verb and does not fit here. Option 3 uses 'fitting', which is not used in this phrase. Option 4 mixes 'fit for purpose' with 'to our needs', which is not the phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fit to purpose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.