expedient
/ɪkˈspiːdi.ənt/ adjective, noun
Forms expedients
- adjective Suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended. “Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the most expedient option.”
- adjective Affording short-term benefit, often at the expense of the long-term.
- adjective Governed by self-interest, often short-term self-interest.
- adjective (obsolete) Expeditious, quick, rapid.
- noun A method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English expedient, from Old French expedient, from Latin expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire (“to bring forward, to dispatch, to expedite; impers. to be profitable, serviceable, advantageous, expedient”), from ex (“out”) + pēs (“foot, hoof”).
Webster’s 1913
- Hastening or forward; hence, tending to further or promote a proposed object; fit or proper under the circumstances; conducive to self-interest; desirable; advisable; advantageous; --sometimes contradistinguished from right.
- Quick; expeditious. [Obs.]
- noun That which serves to promote or advance; suitable means to accomplish an end. What sure expedient than shall Juno find, To calm her fears and ease her boding mind Philips.
- noun Means devised in an exigency; shift.
Etymology [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of expedire to be expedient, release, extricate: cf. F. expédient. See Expedite.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “expedient”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details