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.
During the Cold War, neutral Austria, which was situated close to the Iron Curtain, was a convenient listening post.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
It is a tactical operation, and he is simply the most convenient available target.
From Salon • May 2, 2026
The U.A.E. has previously flirted with leaving the cartel, and the Iran war may be a convenient time to formalize the divorce.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
“We are pleased with our first-quarter results, which featured an acceleration in both net revenue and organic revenue growth—with a notable improvement in convenient foods organic Volume,” said CEO Ramon Laguarta.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
After that it was a matter of sleuthing—investigating crevices that would be a convenient place to hide a book-shaped object, observing a pile of freshly dug dirt, or noticing something out of place.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
