EXPEDIENT


Meaning of EXPEDIENT in English

I. ex ‧ pe ‧ di ‧ ent 1 /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: Latin , present participle of expedire ; ⇨ ↑ expedite ]

helping you to deal with a problem quickly and effectively although sometimes in a way that is not morally right OPP inexpedient :

This solution is politically expedient but may well cause long-term problems.

expedient to do something

We think it is expedient to make a good-will gesture to the new administration.

II. expedient 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]

a quick and effective way of dealing with a problem:

Moore escaped by the simple expedient of lying down in a clump of grass.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.