Meanings
nouncross-purpose (plural cross-purposes)
plural cross-purposes · alternative cross purpose
- idiomaticA contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.
We are working at cross-purposes here, if you're trying to reduce the count and I'm trying to increase it.
Origin
Attested (in the plural form) since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentions.’
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Cantonese 南轅北轍 /南辕北辙
- 南轅北轍 /南辕北辙 (naam⁴ jyun⁴ bak¹ cit³)contrary purpose or understanding
Finnish ristiriita
- ristiriitacontrary purpose or understanding
Polish przeciwstawny zamysł
- przeciwstawny zamysłcontrary purpose or understanding
Cite this entry
APA
cross-purpose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-purpose
MLA
“cross-purpose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-purpose. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross-purpose,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-purpose.
Source: cross-purpose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.