1. the quality of having or showing purpose, intention, or goal-directed behavior
Usage: formal
2. the appearance of design or intention in natural processes or biological systems
Usage: philosophy; biology

Examples

• The purposiveness of her actions impressed the committee.
• Scientists debate the apparent purposiveness in evolutionary processes.
• The purposiveness of the bird’s nest-building behavior is remarkable.
• Kant wrote extensively about purposiveness in nature and art.
• The team’s purposiveness led them to victory.
• Critics questioned the purposiveness of the new policy.