expeditious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of expeditious
First recorded in 1590–1600; exped(ition) + -itious
Explanation
Anything expeditious is speedy and efficient. People like shortcuts because they are expeditious. If you can do things quickly and well, then you're good at being expeditious. In math, there are often many ways to get an answer: the quickest method is the most expeditious. There might be many ways to get home from school, but the fastest is the most expeditious. But there's more to being expeditious than just speed — you have to get a good result too. If you solve a problem quickly but get it wrong, that's not very expeditious.
Vocabulary lists containing expeditious
This Week in Words: November 26 - December 1, 2017
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Tempest
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It was conceptualised when I was the CEO. It needs to be implemented in near real-time in the banking system. Unfortunately, that has not happened," he says, calling for its expeditious execution.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
A White House official told Barron’s the administration was working to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order from December, which directed regulators to reschedule marijuana “in the most expeditious manner.”
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
Now, however, it’s clear that, at least when it comes to this order, language like “most expeditious manner,” doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is changing anytime soon.
From Salon ● Feb. 6, 2026
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has already said the state will “ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice.”
From Slate ● Jan. 8, 2026
More favors, innocent enough — packages to the mailbox, expeditious disposal of a bumblebee.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
