Words / C2

ik-SPEED-ee-uh-nt/ɪkˈspiːdiənt/

Expedient means convenient and practical, often at a cost to principle: an expedient delay, politically expedient. Practical is neutral; expedient can hint at a shortcut. Expeditious is speedy and efficient — related root, different judgement. An expedient as a noun is a handy device. Do not praise a policy as expedient if you mean it was right.

Meaning

Convenient and practical, though not always principled.

Examples

• “Delaying the report was expedient, not honest.”
• “Quietly dropping the clause was expedient; it was not candid.”
• “What is expedient in a crisis can look shabby in the inquiry.”

Good to know

Convenient, not necessarily principled. Mix-up: expeditious (prompt, efficient). Noun: an expedient (a device). Neutral cousin: practical.

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