for all intents and purposes — in effect / practically speaking
expressionC1IELTS 7+formaloccasional
Used to say that something is true or the case in most practical ways, even if it is not officially or technically so.
Say it like a native
Textbook In a manner that covers practically every relevant respect, the deal is finished.
Native For all intents and purposes, the deal's done.
The idiom does the job in one phrase; spelling it out is awkward.
Pattern: for all intents and purposes, [clause]
In use
- For all intents and purposes, the two companies operate as one.daily life
- For all intents and purposes, online learning has become the main way students access education these days, especially since the pandemic.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ For all intensive purposes, it's over.
✓ For all intents and purposes, it's over.
It's 'intents and purposes' — not the mis-heard 'intensive purposes'.
Common collocations
for all intents and purposes— it's, the same, finished, dead
Don't confuse it
Similar to 'effectively' or 'in practice', but 'for all intents and purposes' is more idiomatic and slightly more formal in tone.