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Synonyms

expedient

American  
[ik-spee-dee-uhnt] / ɪkˈspi di ənt /

adjective

  1. 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
  2. conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right.

  3. acting in accordance with expediency, or what is advantageous.


noun

  • expedients
    plural
  1. a means to an end.

    The ladder was a useful expedient for getting to the second floor.

  2. 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
expedient British  
/ ɪkˈspiːdɪənt /

adjective

  1. suitable to the circumstances; appropriate

  2. inclined towards methods or means that are advantageous rather than fair or just

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. something suitable or appropriate, esp something used during an urgent situation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing expedient

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:

That arrangement was initially understood by most people involved, including the British government, as a temporary expedient to avoid ethnic and religious conflict.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

For me, going to the White House would feel more expedient than right.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2026

I’m momentarily reminded of the daughter of a British greengrocer, Margaret Thatcher, who, early in her political career, established her economic credentials by the simple expedient of knowing the price of butter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 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

But now...it began to feel like an expedient with no object.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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

These expedients would work, but they’d be horrendously inefficient compared with the modern agricultural, packaging, and transportation methods.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2012

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

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