expediency

NOUN

//ɪkˈspiːdiənsi//

the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral

💡 Concept

a well-dressed executive points confidently at a chart showing quick profit gains while pushing aside environmental impact reports. The executive's gesture dismisses the environmental documents as colleagues look on with mixed expressions of concern and reluctant agreement. The discarded reports scatter across the table showing pollution and waste data. Other meeting participants exchange worried glances but nod along with the profitable but questionable plan. the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪkˈspiːdiənsi/

🇬🇧 UK/ɪkˈspiːdiənsi/

🌳Etymology

Rootexpedire

Suffix--ency

Origin

From Latin expedire meaning 'to free the feet' or 'to extricate.' The word originally described removing obstacles from one's path to move forward quickly, which evolved to mean choosing practical solutions over principles.

🎵Rhyme

tendencydependencyfrequency

tendency

dependency

frequency

🔗Collocations

political expediency

matter of expediency

economic expediency

pure expediency

military expediency

for reasons of expediency

📝Examples

“The CEO's hiring decision was pure expediency - he chose his nephew over qualified candidates.”

😄 Fun example

“Out of expediency, she told her boss she was sick when she actually wanted to go shopping.”

“The government's policy was driven by expediency rather than long-term planning.”

😄 Fun example

“His marriage was a matter of expediency - he needed a green card more than love.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

pragmatismopportunismconveniencepracticalityutilitarianism

Antonyms

principleidealismintegrity

expedientexpeditepragmaticopportunistic

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expediency — the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral

Example Sentences