EXPEDIENT


Meaning of EXPEDIENT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ɪkspi:diənt ]

( expedients)

1.

An expedient is an action that achieves a particular purpose, but may not be morally right.

Surgical waiting lists were reduced by the simple expedient of striking off all patients awaiting varicose vein operations...

N-COUNT : usu sing , oft N of -ing

2.

If it is expedient to do something, it is useful or convenient to do it, even though it may not be morally right.

Governments frequently ignore human rights abuses in other countries if it is politically expedient to do so.

ADJ : oft it v-link ADJ to-inf

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.