functional purpose

collocation in English

meaningsoffunctionalandpurpose

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withpurpose.
functional
adjective
uk
/ˈfʌŋk.ʃən.əl/us
/ˈfʌŋk.ʃən.əl/
designed to be practical and useful rather ...
See more atfunctional
purpose
noun
uk
/ˈpɜː.pəs/us
/ˈpɝː.pəs/
why you do something or why ...
See more atpurpose

(Definition offunctionalandpurposefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesoffunctional purpose

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
First, it conflates identity with the construction of an issue area, which leads to an incorrect narrowing of identity to an organization'sfunctionalpurpose.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The modern fireplace has, of course, not only lost itsfunctionalpurposebut often, in terms of heating, can do more harm than good.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It aims to establish the particular behavior of every species, making broad use of the concept of thefunctionalpurposeof the organs for the individual.
From theCambridge English Corpus
That is her especial distinction and glory, or, as one must say in these days, her particularfunctionalpurpose.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is true of any place not used for itsfunctionalpurpose.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It may be that we cannot use the site for afunctionalpurpose, but let us accept that we want to make it attractive.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They serve a purelyfunctionalpurpose, enabling grants to be paid to providers of nursery education to four-year-olds.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
None of that has anyfunctionalpurposebut it serves a symbolic purpose.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Whether they served a decorative orfunctionalpurposeis uncertain (probably both).
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
However, if the designs every visual feature serves afunctionalpurpose, then common law states that the design is not registrable.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Some of these animals were purely decorative, while others also had afunctionalpurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The pattern of ridges on the carapace serves a veryfunctionalpurposeas sites of muscle attachment.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
A belt course is usually a decorative element and does not have a strictlyfunctionalpurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Quarengi organized the internal space of the two buildings according to theirfunctionalpurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
When multiplied, thefunctionalpurposeof these objects is obscured and new metaphorical readings become apparent.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Others claim that the construction has afunctionalpurposefor ceremonial processions.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Such communities serve afunctionalpurpose, smoothing the path of the member for a limited period surrounding a given activity.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Some studies, however, offer up afunctionalpurposefor these ornaments.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It has a symbolic, rather thanfunctionalpurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The court held that the filing system was improper subject matter for copyright because it served afunctionalpurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition offunctional
Go to the definition ofpurpose
See other collocations withpurpose