expediency

[ ik-spee-dee-uhn-see ]

noun

, plural ex·pe·di·en·cies.

1. the quality of being expedient; advantageousness; advisability.
2. a regard for what is politic or advantageous rather than for what is right or just; a sense of self-interest.
3. something expedient.

expediency

/ ɪkˈspiːdɪənsɪ /

noun

1. appropriateness; suitability
2. the use of or inclination towards methods that are advantageous rather than fair or just
3. another word for expedient

Other Words From

• nonex·pedi·ence noun
• nonex·pedi·en·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expediency¹

From the Late Latin word expedientia, dating back to 1605–15. See expedient, -ency

Example Sentences

Even their local government—not an entity typically associated with expediency—released an app that gave citizens connected access to services in a fraction of the usual time.

From MIT Technology Review

For one insurance company, it has taken her seven months so far to get in-network, despite their promises of expediency.

From Popular-Science

When given the opportunity, states have often played with definitions of humanity for political expediency, to bolster their power, or to confer an advantage on a specific group.

From Time

The House arrived at that number because of political expediency — and it has stayed there because of it, too.

From FiveThirtyEight

The 14 members of the panel have spent the past several months grappling with questions about balancing fairness and expediency.

From Washington Post

These all-clear fliers are filtered through special lines for expediency.

From The Daily Beast

He appeared to be just a brave and decent impulse away from speaking out where political expediency has too often kept him silent.

From The Daily Beast

But in our polarized era, memory is short and policy consistency often takes a backseat to partisan expediency.

From The Daily Beast

On one hand, it seems oddly principled of Romney, a candidate who has always been guided by expediency when it comes to abortion.

From The Daily Beast

The troops are acutely attuned to signs of political expediency.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Jackson supposed that Parliament had a right to tax America, but he much doubted the expediency of the present act.

From Project Gutenberg

But Nature's voice is far less often heard than that of her adversary, expediency.

From Project Gutenberg

Hard is the contest between affection and expediency, when it is raised by the question of circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore our political questions have been questions of expediency rather than of principle.

From Project Gutenberg

The justice of the measure was not less evident than its expediency.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• practicality