# expedient

/ɪkˈspidiənt/ (US) · /ɛkspˈiːdiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expedient
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. practical or useful

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

useful or helpful for achieving a goal in a particular situation.

For teachers: suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose or to effect a desired end.

- The government found it expedient to lower taxes just before the election.
- The committee decided it was politically expedient to postpone the vote until the public outcry had subsided.

Usage: Often used to describe political or business decisions that prioritise results over ethics.

### 2. convenient but immoral

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

helpful for getting what you want right now, even if it is not morally right.

For teachers: characterised by self-interest or immediate advantage rather than by what is right or just.

- He made an expedient choice to lie about his past to get the job.
- The CEO's expedient disregard for safety regulations eventually led to a massive environmental disaster.

### 3. a quick solution

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a quick way to solve a problem, often used when you do not have a better choice.

For teachers: a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but perhaps improper or immoral.

- The new law was just a temporary expedient to stop the financial crisis.
- Relying on high-interest loans was a desperate expedient that only delayed the company's eventual bankruptcy.

Teaching tip: In this noun form, it is often paired with 'temporary' or 'desperate' to describe a short-term fix.

## Examples

- The politician used a quick expedient to win the election.
- In a time of crisis, the government may take an expedient that would normally be considered unethical to save lives.
- While the immediate expedient of lowering taxes pleased the electorate, the long-term consequences for the national debt were severe and difficult to reverse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.