Expedient

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: ex=pe=di=ent

CIDE DICTIONARY

Expedient, a. [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of expedire to be expedient, release, extricate: cf. F. expédient. See Expedite.].

•  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 or principled.  [1913 Webster]

  "It is expedient for you that I go away."  [1913 Webster]

  "Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since that can never be true expediency which would sacrifice a greater good to a less."  [1913 Webster]
•  Quick; expeditious.  [1913 Webster]

  "His marches are expedient to this town."  [1913 Webster]

Expedient, n. 

•  That which serves to promote or advance; suitable means to accomplish an end.  [1913 Webster]

  "What sure expedient than shall Juno find,
  To calm her fears and ease her boding mind?"  [1913 Webster]
•  Means devised in an exigency; shift.

Syn. -- Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Expedient, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 advantageous; advisable on practical rather than moral grounds.
2 suitable, appropriate.
--n. a means of attaining an end; a resource.

Derivative

expedience n. expediency n. expediently adv.

Etymology

ME f. L expedire: see EXPEDITE

THESAURUS

Expedient

action, ad hoc measure, advantageous, advisable, agency, answer, applicable, appropriate, apropos, art, artful dodge, artifice, auspicious, banausic, becoming, befitting, behind-the-scenes influence, beneficial, benevolent, blind, bon, bonny, braw, bueno, capital, chicanery, cogent, commendable, commodious, congruous, conspiracy, contrivance, convenient, correct, countermove, coup, course of action, craft, cute trick, deceit, decent, demarche, dernier ressort, design, desirable, device, devices, dodge, effective, effort, elegant, employable, estimable, excellent, expediency, expedients, fair, fakement, famous, favorable, feasible, feint, felicitous, fetch, fine, fit, fitten, fitting, fortunate, fructuous, functional, gambit, game, gimmick, going between, good, good for, goodly, grand, grift, happy, healthy, helpful, hope, improvisation, influence, instrument, instrumentality, intermediation, intrigue, judicious, jugglery, jury-rig, jury-rigged expedient, kind, knavery, last expedient, last resort, last shift, laudable, likely, little game, lucky, machination, machinery, makeshift, maneuver, maneuvering, maneuvers, manipulation, means, measure, mechanism, mediation, medium, meet, move, nice, noble, of general utility, of help, of service, of use, opportune, pertinent, pis aller, pleasant, plot, ploy, politic, political influence, possible, practicable, practical, pragmatic, pragmatical, profitable, proper, propitious, providential, prudent, racket, recommendable, recommended, recourse, red herring, refuge, regal, resort, resource, right, ripe, royal, ruse, scheme, seasonable, seemly, service, serviceable, shake-up, shift, skillful, sleight, solution, sortable, sound, splendid, step, stopgap, stratagem, strategy, stroke, stroke of policy, substitute, subterfuge, suitable, tactic, tactical, tactical maneuvers, tactics, temporary expedient, timely, to be desired, trick, trickery, trump, useful, utilitarian, valid, very good, virtuous, well-timed, wile, wily device, wire-pulling, wise, working hypothesis, working proposition, worthwhile

ROGET THESAURUS

Expedient

Plan

N plan, scheme, design, project, proposal, proposition, suggestion, resolution, motion, precaution, deep- laid plan, system, organization, germ, sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche, brouillon, rough cast, rough draft, draught copy, copy, proof, revise, drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation), forecast, program, programme, prospectus, carte du pays, card, bill, protocol, order of the day, list of agenda, bill of fare, base of operations, platform, plank, slate, ticket, role, policy, contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device, pipelaying, stratagem, trick, alternative, loophole, shift, last shift, measure, step, stroke, stroke of policy, master stroke, trump card, court card, cheval de bataille, great gun, coup, coup d'etat, clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke, bright thought, bright idea, intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot, machination, subplot, underplot, counterplot, schemer, schemist, schematist, strategist, machinator, projector, artist, promoter, designer, conspirator, intrigant, planned, strategic, strategical, planning, prepared, in course of preparation, under consideration, on the tapis, on the carpet, on the floor.

Instrumentality

N instrumentality, aid, subservience, subserviency, mediation, intervention, medium, intermedium, vehicle, hand, agency, minister, handmaid, midwife, accoucheur, accoucheuse, obstetrician, gobetween, cat's-paw, stepping-stone, opener, key, master key, passkey, latchkey, open sesame, passport, passe-partout, safe-conduct, password, instrument, expedient, means, instrumental, useful, ministerial, subservient, mediatorial, intermediate, intervening, conducive, through, by, per, whereby, thereby, hereby, by the agency of, by dint of, by virtue of, in virtue of, through the medium of, along with, on the shoulders of, by means of, by the aid of, with the aid of, per fas et nefas, by fair means or foul, somehow, somehow or other, by hook or by crook.

Utility

N utility, usefulness, efficacy, efficiency, adequacy, service, use, stead, avail, help, applicability, subservience, function, value, worth, money's worth, productiveness, cui bono, utilization, step in the right direction, common weal, commonwealth public good, public interest, utilitarianism, useful, of use, serviceable, proficuous, good for, subservient, conducive, subsidiary, advantageous, profitable, gainful, remunerative, worth one's salt, valuable, prolific, adequate, efficient, efficacious, effective, effectual, expedient, applicable, available, ready, handy, at hand, tangible, commodious, adaptable, of all work, usefully, pro bono publico.

Expedience

N expedience, expediency, desirableness, desirability, fitness, utility, propriety, opportunism, advantage, high time, expedient, desirable, advisable, acceptable, convenient, worth while, meet, fit, fitting, due, proper, eligible, seemly, becoming, befitting, opportune, in loco, suitable, applicable, in the right place, conveniently, operae pretium est.

Wisdom

N intelligence, wisdom, intelligence, capacity, comprehension, understanding, cuteness, sabe, savvy, intellect, nous, parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit, gumption, quick parts, grasp of intellect, acuteness, acumen, subtlety, penetration, perspicacy, perspicacity, discernment, due sense of, good judgment, discrimination, cunning, refinement, head, brains, headpiece, upper story, long head, eagle eye, eagle- glance, eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk, wisdom, sapience, sense, good sense, common sense, horse sense, plain sense, rationality, reason, reasonableness, judgment, solidity, depth, profundity, caliber, enlarged views, reach of thought, compass of thought, enlargement of mind, genius, inspiration, geist, fire of genius, heaven-born genius, soul, talent, prudence, vigilance, tact, foresight, sobriety, self-possession, aplomb, ballast, a bright thought, not a bad idea, Solomon-like wisdom, intelligent, quick of apprehension, keen, acute, alive, brainy, awake, bright, quick, sharp, quick witted, keen witted, clear witted, sharp-eyed, sharp sighted, sharp witted, wide- awake, canny, shrewd, astute, clear-headed, farsighted, discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing, argute, quick-witted, nimble-witted, needle-witted, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, alive to, clever, arch, pas si bete, acute, wise, sage, sapient, sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in one's right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens, judicious, strong- minded, unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted, unprepossessed, undazzled, unperplexed, unwarped judgment, impartial, equitable, fair, cool, cool-headed, long-headed, hardheaded, strong-headed, long- sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting, solid, deep, profound, oracular, heaven-directed, heaven-born, prudent, sober, stand, solid, considerate, politic, wise in one's generation, watchful, provident, in advance of one' age, wise as a serpent, wise as Solomon, wise as Solon, wise, sensible, reasonable, judicious, well- thought-out, well-planned, well-judged, well-advised, prudent, politic, expedient, aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet, but with the morning cool reflection came, flosculi sententiarum, les affaires font les hommes, mas vale saber que haber, mas vale ser necio que profiadol nemo solus sapit, nosce te, gnothi seauton, nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit, sapere aude, victrix fortunae sapientia.