expedient
ik-SPEE-dee-unt
/ɪkˈspiː.di.ənt/
Convenient and practical, although possibly improper or immoral; suitable for achieving a immediate goal.
Often carries a critical tone implying the sacrifice of principled moral rules for short-term practical gain.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'expedire', literally meaning 'to free the feet from shackles' (from 'ex-' out + 'pes' foot). Originally meaning to remove obstacles to move fast, it grew in political thought to describe choosing quick convenience over high principle.
Word relationships
- advantageous: Advantageous simply means helpful, whereas expedient carries a distinct nuance of moral compromise for convenience.
- inexpedient: Not practical or effective for reaching a goal.
- principled: Guided by strict moral principles rather than convenient shortcuts.
Commonly confused with
- expeditious: Expeditious means performed with speed and efficiency; expedient means convenient, often opportunistically so.
Word family
- expediency (noun): The quality of being convenient and practical despite potential moral flaws
- expedite (verb): To speed up the progress of a process
Collocations
- politically expedient
- expedient solution
- expedient measure
- commercially expedient
Example sentences
- "Critics argued that signing the hasty treaty was politically expedient, but fundamentally compromised long-term security." Political Strategy
Memory hook
EX-PED-ient = getting your feet (PED) EX-tricated from trouble by the quickest means possible. Convenient over principled.
When not to use
Do not use as a simple synonym for 'good' or 'proper'; it strongly suggests pragmatic convenience at the expense of duty or ethics.
Fun facts
- John Stuart Mill devoted an entire chapter of his book 'Utilitarianism' to defending utility against critics who claimed it reduced morality to mere 'expediency'.
Related words
Explore more words
expeditious, realpolitik, convenience, functional, machiavellian, propriety
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