expedient
Americanadjective
-
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
-
conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right.
-
acting in accordance with expediency, or what is advantageous.
noun
-
a means to an end.
The ladder was a useful expedient for getting to the second floor.
-
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
adjective
-
suitable to the circumstances; appropriate
-
inclined towards methods or means that are advantageous rather than fair or just
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
nonexpedientadjective
-
quasi-expedientadjective
-
unexpedientadjective
-
expedientlyadverb
-
nonexpedientlyadverb
-
quasi-expedientlyadverb
-
unexpedientlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of expedient
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin expedient- (stem of expediēns ), present participle of expedīre. See expedite, -ent
Explanation
The adjective expedient describes something that provides an easy way to achieve a goal or result, but it's not necessarily a moral solution. Politically expedient means something you do to advance yourself politically. Use expedient when you want to hint that a particular solution or strategy has certain benefits and advantages but is not completely fair. However, expedient can also be used as a noun to describe something practical for a particular purpose.
Vocabulary lists containing expedient
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 12, List 1
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"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe
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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.
See Examples For:
The U.S. quickly sank Iran’s naval assets, so the remaining threats were such things as expedient mining off the back of small boats and attempts to use anti-tank missiles against passing tankers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
"If we set aside the rules when we deem expedient, why can't our adversaries?"
From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026
People will readily share their data — even when it comes to their health — for things they value, like better service, cheaper prices, and expedient convenience.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 21, 2026
They’ve worked with Mayor Karen Bass and her office, the local government in the Palisades and Steadfast LA, Rick Caruso’s nonprofit, to find the most efficient and expedient way to rebuild the rec center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2025
Thupa Inka descended the Moche River and paralyzed Chimor’s defenses by the simple expedient of threatening to destroy its water supply.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
For a time it appeared that Washington was prepared to buy into this set of expedients.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2015
All the things we did were great expedients, given the terrible problems we had, and it’s working after a fashion.
From Forbes ● Apr. 13, 2015
The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 10, 2012
Much has been written about Italian individualism, its expedients, its limitations, and its consequences.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2011
He resented having “to resort to temporary expedients merely to make a poor show for the opening.”
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
