convenient
Americanadjective
-
suitable or agreeable to the needs or purpose; well-suited with respect to facility or ease in use; favorable, easy, or comfortable for use.
- Synonyms:
- advantageous, helpful, useful, serviceable
-
at hand; easily accessible.
Their house is convenient to all transportation.
- Synonyms:
- handy
-
Obsolete. fitting; suitable.
adjective
-
suitable for one's purpose or needs; opportune
-
easy to use
-
close by or easily accessible; handy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of convenient
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from from Latin convenient- (stem of conveniēns ), present participle of convenīre “to be suitable, come together”; see convene, -ent
Explanation
If something is convenient, it adds to your comfort, causes little trouble, or is easy to use, do, or reach. If you live close to your job, that's convenient––it's very easy to get there and get home. This adjective descends from Middle English, from Latin conveniēns, from convenīre "to be suitable, fit." The basic meaning of Latin convenīre is "to agree, meet, come together," and this is the source of English convene. The opposite of convenient is inconvenient, meaning making trouble or annoyance for you. The corresponding nouns are convenience and inconvenience.
Vocabulary lists containing convenient
The Articles of Confederation (1777)
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Messenger
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Game Changer
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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.
The bargain is convenience, and often it genuinely is convenient.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
The companies see the method as a quick and convenient way for shoppers to get online orders delivered to their homes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
"It used to be a barren mountain, but since the area has developed, transportation has become more convenient, trade has picked up, business opportunities have emerged," local shopkeeper Shu Peihua said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
"People can't afford your standard healthy food, which means people are eating quick, convenient food, which is no good for them," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
I could treat campaigning like a hobby, picking it up when it was convenient, having some fun with it, and then getting back to my own work.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
