SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
expediency
noun
The usefulness or convenience of an action for achieving an immediate aim.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Practical convenience
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topExpediency often implies putting an immediate advantage ahead of principle or long-term consequences.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The expedient family
expediency is grouped under expedient in the main dictionaries. This form keeps its meaning and previous study record.
expedientadjective
Useful or convenient for reaching an aim, though not always principled.
Useful for an immediate aim
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
A temporary patch seemed expedient while a full repair was arranged.
An expedient decision to accept a rushed order would secure immediate supplies, but skipping the promised staff consultation would leave a fairness concern unresolved.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See expediency in use
The decision favored expediency over careful long-term planning.
To inspect the possible location, the committee took a circuitous route around several closed paths in the park. One member suggested choosing the first available space purely for expediency, even if visitors would struggle to find it.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license