united purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"united purpose" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a shared goal or objective among a group of people. For example, "The team worked together with a united purpose to achieve their common goal." Alternative expressions include "common goal," "shared objective," and "collective aim."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Their united purpose was to defeat Shays-Meehan or some of the bill's provisions.

The New York Times

But its role as the central trans-Atlantic organization with a truly united purpose and solidarity among all of the allies is in doubt.

The New York Times

The roar that greeted his goal against Congo will not be forgotten by those present and spoke of a united purpose.

The Guardian - Sport

The uncoordinated and sometimes contradictory thinking at the top was soon reflected at the community level leading to haphazard, half-baked projects filled not with a united purpose but with jealousy, unhealthy competition and suspicions.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 1933, F.D.R. came into office with an Inaugural Speech calling for fearlessness in the face of horrific adversity; four years later, with greater confidence, he outlined the framework of a liberal state — "the need to find through government the instrument of our united purpose to solve for the individual the ever-rising problems of a complex civilization".

The New Yorker

Instinctively we recognized a deeper need -- the need to find through government the instrument of our united purpose to solve for the individual the ever-rising problems of a complex civilization... To do this we knew that we must find practical controls over blind economic forces and blindly selfish men.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now united in purpose, they cannot agree on who should have the privilege of assassinating Riccardo.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since the killing, Ms. Torres's neighbors have been united in purpose, to help her weather the blow.

The New York Times

It had completed its evolution into a kind of congregation, united in purpose and spirit, prepared to enter whatever room Ms. Jones unlocked next.

The New York Times - Arts

"Cubans are one of the most influential groups in the state because they are so united in purpose, so willing to get involved and because they vote in numbers disproportionate to their size," said Senator Robert Torricelli, a New Jersey Democrat who is a darling of Cuban exiles and well known in Washington for his hard-line stance against Castro.

The New York Times

Mr Cameron said the member countries would leave the summit "united in purpose, with a strong Nato better able to keep our people safe".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this phrase for contexts involving large groups, nations or organizations to lend a sense of gravity and scale to the narrative.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "uniting purpose" when they actually mean the state of being already unified. Use "united purpose" to describe an existing condition of agreement and "uniting purpose" only if the purpose itself is currently in the process of bringing people together.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "united purpose" functions primarily as a noun phrase consisting of a past participle used as an adjective ("united") modifying a common noun ("purpose"). In linguistic structures provided by Ludwig, it often serves as a direct object or a subject complement to highlight a state of solidarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "united purpose" is a highly effective linguistic tool for describing collective intent and solidarity. According to Ludwig AI, it is both grammatically correct and widely accepted in professional writing. While it is classified as Uncommon based on total volume, its high density in prestigious publications like The New York Times and The Guardian suggests it carries significant weight in serious discourse. Writers should use it to emphasize ideological alignment and consider alternatives like "<a href="/s/common+goal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">common goal" for more practical or task-oriented descriptions. Overall, it remains a powerful choice for expressing the strength of a shared vision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common goal

Suggests a shared practical target or outcome.

shared objective

More technical or business-oriented than the original phrase.

collective mission

Implies a higher sense of duty or a specific calling.

unified vision

Focuses on the conceptual or future-oriented aspect of unity.

joint aim

Emphasizes the act of collaboration between two or more parties.

shared resolve

Highlights the determination and willpower behind the unity.

common cause

Often used in political or social contexts to indicate alignment against a challenge.

singular focus

Emphasizes the intensity and lack of distraction in the group effort.

mutual intent

A more formal and legalistic way to describe shared plans.

collaborative intent

Explicitly highlights that the purpose is born from working together.

FAQs

How do I use "united purpose" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a collective state of mind, such as "The community was bound by a "united purpose" to rebuild the library."

What can I say instead of "united purpose"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/common+goal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">common goal", "<a href="/s/shared+vision" target="_blank" rel="alternative">shared vision" or "<a href="/s/collective+mission" target="_blank" rel="alternative">collective mission".

Is "united purpose" formal?

Yes, it is a neutral to formal phrase. It appears frequently in editorial writing, such as in <a href="/s/The+New+York+Times" target="_blank" rel="alternative">The New York Times and <a href="/s/The+Guardian" target="_blank" rel="alternative">The Guardian, and is suitable for business or political speeches.

What is the difference between "united purpose" and "common cause"?

While similar, "<a href="/s/common+cause" target="_blank" rel="alternative">common cause" often implies a temporary alliance to solve a specific problem, whereas "united purpose" suggests a more permanent or deeply held shared value.