for all intents and purposes
In effect, basically
For all intents and purposes means in every practical sense, even if not technically or officially so: For all intents and purposes, she runs the company, though her title is just "advisor".
The phrase acknowledges a gap between formal status and functional reality.
Often shortened to for all purposes.
The common mishearing "for all intensive purposes" is considered an error.
- as good asEquivalent in effect
- virtuallyNearly but not quite
- effectiveProducing intended results
- essentiallyAt its core nature
- operativeCovert field agent
functional · so to speak · by and large · meaningful · more or less · applicable · expression · valid · rhetorical device · working · colloquialism · useful · in practice · at the end of the day · the long and short · serviceable · idiom · turn of phrase
for all intents and purposesliterally
In exact terms
technically · strictly speaking · in point of fact · de jure · nominally
for all intents and purposesexactly
With total accuracy
precisely · to the letter · word for word · without exception · one hundred percent
intents, intent, intend, intends, intended, intending, intention, intentions, intentional