expediency
Americannoun
plural
expediencies-
the quality of being expedient; advantageousness; advisability.
-
a regard for what is politic or advantageous rather than for what is right or just; a sense of self-interest.
-
something expedient.
noun
-
appropriateness; suitability
-
the use of or inclination towards methods that are advantageous rather than fair or just
-
another word for expedient
Other Word Forms
- nonexpedience noun
- nonexpediency noun
Etymology
Origin of expediency
From the Late Latin word expedientia, dating back to 1605–15. See expedient, -ency
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 Bears haven’t found the same expediency in Illinois despite buying a parcel of land in Arlington Heights, a Chicago suburb, in 2021.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Apple is pacing itself, putting user experience and privacy above expediency.
From Barron's • Dec. 5, 2025
Barr, which made clear that immigration enforcement must be tethered to the Constitution, not expediency.
From Slate • Sep. 22, 2025
The first “Simple Favor” was already a dishy delight — and if that summary intrigues you, it’s worth a watch to take in all of the preposterous twists and turns I’ve left out for expediency.
From Salon • May 3, 2025
Even though Reggie was coming to terms with his actions at the time of the accident, there was plenty of reason to think the plea was just expediency.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
