Meaning of EXPEDIENT
| Pronunciation: | | ik'speedeeunt
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [n] a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one
- [adj] serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient"
- [adj] appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty"
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| | Synonyms: | | advantageous, appropriate, opportunist, opportunistic, timeserving |
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| | Antonyms: | | inexpedient | | |
| | See Also: | | agency, convenient, crutch, improvisation, last resort, makeshift, means, pis aller, politic, stopgap, temporary expedient, useful, utile, way | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
\Ex*pe"di*ent\a. [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of
expedire to be expedient, release, extricate: cf. F.
exp['e]dient. See {Expedite}.]
1. 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.
It is expedient for you that I go away. --John xvi.
7.
Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since
that can never be true expediency which would
sacrifice a greater good to a less. --Whately.
2. Quick; expeditious. [Obs.]
His marches are expedient to this town. --Shak.
\Ex*pe"di*ent\, n.
1. 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.
2. Means devised in an exigency; shift.
Syn: Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute.
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