expedient

[ ik-spee-dee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. tending to promote some proposed or desired object; fit or suitable for the purpose; proper under the circumstances:

   It is expedient that you go.

   Synonyms: profitable, advantageous, desirable, appropriate, advisable

   Antonyms: disadvantageous

2. conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right.
3. acting in accordance with expediency, or what is advantageous.

noun

1. a means to an end:

   The ladder was a useful expedient for getting to the second floor.

2. a means devised or employed in an exigency; resource; shift:

   Use any expedients you think necessary to get over the obstacles in your way.

   Synonyms: resort, contrivance, device

expedient

/ ɪkˈspiːdɪənt /

adjective

1. suitable to the circumstances; appropriate
2. inclined towards methods or means that are advantageous rather than fair or just

noun

1. something suitable or appropriate, esp something used during an urgent situation

Derived Forms

• exˈpediently, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
• nonex·pedi·ent adjective
• nonex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
• quasi-ex·pedi·ent adjective
• quasi-ex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
• unex·pedi·ent adjective
• unex·pedi·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedient¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin expedient- (stem of expediēns ), present participle of expedīre. See expedite, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedient¹

C14: from Latin expediēns setting free; see expedite

Example Sentences

Congress should pass legislation allowing for an expedient and merciful resettlement of Afghan refugees into the country.

From Time

In some uncomplicated health-care situations, professional medical knowledge is sufficient to find an expedient solution, so decisions are straightforward.

From MIT Technology Review

After all, they reasoned, Burr was an expedient politician who would defect to the party that thrust him into power.

From Washington Post

Machine learning provides an equitable, precise, and expedient capability to allocate our precious vaccine supplies.

From Fortune

Walling America off—whether physically, economically, or digitally—is expedient, but it is the ultimate self-defeating move for a 21st-century power that relies on international interconnectedness.

From Fortune

It was the result of a chain of good decisions—wise, prudent, long-sighted, or, at the least, expedient choices.

From The Daily Beast

So in Florida, backing Medicaid expansion may become the politically expedient thing for the Republican.

From The Daily Beast

Obama noted Thursday that both sides in the conflict blame the U.S., a popular and expedient political tactic in Egypt.

From The Daily Beast

And because “it is very tempting to a minister to employ such an expedient…the practice will…be abused, in every government.”

From The Daily Beast

The egalitarian rule-follower is merely expedient, but the loyal person will go to the wall for you.

From The Daily Beast

I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to have executed immediately what is most expedient for the royal service in this matter.

From Project Gutenberg

But, after all, perhaps it might be easier and more expedient if he were to appear to accept the Seneschal's statement.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably his retreat would be cut off by some similar device, so the bolder expedient of an advance offered the better chance.

From Project Gutenberg

He trusted that what might be done in this matter be most expedient for the service of the king our sovereign.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet all this was beside the main point, which was that the action of Congress, whether expedient or not, was illegal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ad hoc
• advantageous
• desirable
• feasible
• judicious
• opportune
• practicable
• practical
• pragmatic
• prudent