This expression originated with the Royal Navy where stores or equipment were found to be damaged, wouldn’t work or could not be used for the purpose for which they were intended. The expression quickly found wider usage and is now applied to not just stores and equipment, but to organisations, designs even concepts. It can also be applied to co-workers if they are not doing their job properly and, in extreme cases, used as a put down where someone is a complete arsehole and unsuitable to be considered part of the human race.

Malcolm you are unfit for purpose.

Unfit For Purpose by AKACroatalin April 23, 2015

Multi-purpose

It means having numerous uses, being versatile or capable of being used for a great many different things.

The Swiss Army Knife is a multi-purpose tool.

Multi-purpose by AKACroatalin June 9, 2015

For research purposes

An expression often used by men online who want to know the name of a certain video or person so they can store it in their spank bank.

It's synonymous with saying, "so I can fap to this later on."

Can anyone tell me the name of that girl in the video with the big boobs? For research purposes, of course.

For research purposes by Sanguivorant March 30, 2015

Accidental Text on Purpose

When you send someone a text, but you accidentally send it to someone other than the intended receiver. On purpose. Coined by Larry David.

In the accidental text on purpose, you say something like "Hey Larry, you were an asshole the other night. There's nothing wrong with her water, it's perfectly okay."

Accidental Text on Purpose by Richie Queijo November 7, 2017

for scientific purposes

Used to cover one's perverted aims after the fact.

Dude, did you hear about those new DEEPFAKES videos?
Yeah, they have one of Scarlett Johannson doing it!
No way! Wait where might I be able to find these aforementioned videos? What no, it's not for me, obviously, it's... for scientific purposes.

for scientific purposes by Funghuy June 18, 2018

Galantir

A group of people, typically women, searching through someone’s digital footprint in order to find more information about that person.

Susie wasn’t sure if her new Hinge match was a creep, so she assembled Galantir and they found out he used to post slurs on gaming forums.

Galantir by Ge-sus September 22, 2026

Word of the Day on September 23, 2026

murderhobo

In a tabletop game, a murderhobo is a player who murders NPCs indiscriminately. This is normally derogatory, referring to a player who totally ignores quests, dialog, backstory, trade, world building etc.

The term is most common with Dungeons and Dragons, but it can be applied to most RPGs where the player is allowed to kill most quest-giving NPCs and NPC traders. E.g. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Divinity original sin.

DM: The sad little orphan girl tugs at Steve's trenchcoat to get his attention, and ask for help saving her pet dog from...
Steve: I'd like to roll a strength check against strangling the orphan.
Dave: I call dibs on the dog.
DM: You murderhobos disgust me.

murderhobo by Loup&S September 9, 2021

Word of the Day on September 22, 2026

Whale

In sales terms, a whale is a prospect that is significantly larger than an organization’s average customer.

Whales are large and extremely difficult to close. Due to their immense size, they are highly sought-after.

A whale is typically identified at first by a whale hunter on the sales team, but often requires cross-discipline participation in order to close; this includes assistance from operations, engineering, creative, client success, and business development teams.

"Shit...the sales director chewed me out on the sales call this morning. He's totally pissed that I have nothing in my pipeline. I've been focused on this one whale for so long that I haven't had time to prospect for normal-sized deals."

Whale by FQ_GFY February 3, 2020

Word of the Day on September 21, 2026

Concrete cowboy

A guy who thinks he's a country kinda guy, but in reality lives a comfortable city / suburban life.

Eugene: Look at that dude in the cowboy hat!
Todd: He's just a concrete cowboy.

Concrete cowboy by EugeneJohnson42000 March 16, 2024

Word of the Day on September 20, 2026

hobo loko

any hard liquor that is cheap & potent.. eg. relska, popov, potters, evan williams, kamchatka, fireball, rumpleminze, southern comfort, everclear

hey let's get a drink of that?

go ahead
*takes drink* ugh wtf is that?

everclear & bepsi
fucking hobo loko eeessshh

hobo loko by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 19, 2026

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026

city chicken

A food native to Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania in which cubes of pork and/or veal are put on a short, wooden skewer, breaded, then baked and/or fried.

I've heard that city chicken originated during the Great Depression, when folks didn't have enough money to buy full cuts of meat, so they assembled meat scraps on a wooden skewer, creating a make-shift drumstick. Hence the name.

Are yinz havin' city chicken for dinner?

city chicken by TRF August 31, 2006

Word of the Day on September 17, 2026