adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɪkˈspiːdi.ənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH0 K S P IY1 D IY0 AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the most expedient option.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Affording short-term benefit, often at the expense of the long-term.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Governed by self-interest, often short-term self-interest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Expeditious, quick, rapid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
serving to promote your interest
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
was merciful only when mercy was expedient
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: inexpedient
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
appropriate to a purpose; practical
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: means, agency, way
Narrower terms: makeshift, stopgap, make-do, crutch, improvisation, temporary expedient, pis aller, last resort
History
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”).
Across languages
Translations
106 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مُنَاسِب
(munāsib)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Arabic:
مُلَائِم
(mulāʔim)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Azerbaijani:
məqsədəuyğun
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Bulgarian:
целесъобразен
(celesǎobrazen)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Catalan:
convenient
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Czech:
výhodný
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Czech:
účelný
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Danish:
hensigtsmæssig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Danish:
formålstjenlig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Dutch:
doelmatig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Dutch:
van pas komend
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Finnish:
tarkoituksenmukainen
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
angebracht
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
opportun
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
hilfreich
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
passend
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
zielführend
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
zweckmäßig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
zweckdienlich
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
ratsam
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
brauchbar
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
schicklich
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
geeignet
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
günstig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
naheliegend
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
tunlich
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
German:
angemessen
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Greek:
λυσιτελής
(lysitelís)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Hungarian:
célravezető
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Irish:
oiriúnach
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Italian:
conveniente
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Polish:
celowy
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Russian:
целесообра́зный
(celesoobráznyj)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Swedish:
ändamålsenlig
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Ukrainian:
доці́льний
(docílʹnyj)
— suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended
Bulgarian:
удобен
(udoben)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Bulgarian:
целесъобразен
(celesǎobrazen)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Dutch:
eenvoudig
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Dutch:
snel
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Dutch:
uitgekookt
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Finnish:
otollinen
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Finnish:
tarkoituksenmukainen
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
French:
expédient
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
vorteilhaft
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
nützlich
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
günstig
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
angenehm
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
praktisch
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
bequem
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
zweckmäßig
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
German:
zweckdienlich
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Hungarian:
célszerű
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Italian:
opportuno
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Macedonian:
целисходен
(celishoden)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Macedonian:
целесообразен
(celesoobrazen)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Norwegian:
bekvemmelig
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Polish:
dogodny
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Polish:
wygodny
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Portuguese:
expediente
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Romanian:
expeditiv
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Russian:
просто́й
(prostój)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Russian:
удо́бный
(udóbnyj)
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Spanish:
conveniente
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Swedish:
ändamålsenlig
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Turkish:
münasip
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Turkish:
uygun
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
Turkish:
yerinde
— simple, easy, or quick; convenient
