'Expedient' definitions:
Definition of 'expedient'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient" [ant: inexpedient]
adjective
Appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty"
noun
A means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one
Definition of 'Expedient'
From: GCIDE
- Expedient \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 or principled. [1913 Webster]
- It is expedient for you that I go away. --John xvi. 7. [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. --Whately. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Quick; expeditious. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- His marches are expedient to this town. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Expedient'
From: GCIDE
- Expedient \Ex*pe"di*ent\, n.
- 1. 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? --Philips. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Means devised in an exigency; shift.
- Syn: Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'expedient'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- 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