to all intents and purposes

idiomPart ofintent

to all intents and purposes — idiom

1. in almost every important way; for practical purposes, even if not officially or

1.idiom
Definition

in almost every important way; for practical purposes, even if not officially or exactly true.

Example

To all intents and purposes, the old factory has been abandoned for years.

The two systems are, to all intents and purposes, identical.

2. Used to say that something is almost true or has almost the same effect as being

2.idiom
Definition

Used to say that something is almost true or has almost the same effect as being true.

Example

The project was, to all intents and purposes, finished last week.

To all intents and purposes, the two cars are the same model.