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.
Or can we only practice empathy when it’s convenient for us?
From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has argued that courts are a safe and convenient place to detain people who are in the country illegally.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
“Independent pharmacies remain vital to CVS Caremark’s networks, and we collaborate with them to ensure all members have convenient access to the care they need,” spokesman David Whitrap told Barron’s.
From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026
It wasn't clear if I was managing to hit every motion correctly, but it did at least get me moving a bit more, and felt more convenient than heading to a gym class.
From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026
She might be busy, he told himself, although he knew very well how convenient and unconvincing a reason “busy” was.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
