expediency

noun

ex·​pe·​di·​en·​cy ik-ˈspē-dē-ən(t)-sē 

plural expediencies

1

: the quality or state of being suited to the end in view : suitability, fitness

2

obsolete

a

: haste, dispatch

b

: an enterprise requiring haste or caution

3

: adherence to expedient means and methods

put more emphasis on expediency than on principle

—W. H. Jones

4

: a means of achieving a particular end : expedient

expediential

ik-ˌspē-dē-ˈen-chəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• advisability
• advisableness
• desirability
• desirableness
• expedience
• judiciousness
• prudence
• wisdom

Examples of expediency in a Sentence

the expediency of such a plan is questionable

Recent Examples on the Web

And there are a lot of people within Biden world that feel that that decision was made for political expediency. —Philip Elliott, Time, 20 May 2025

Altman was also seemingly trying to circumvent safety processes for expediency. —Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is warning that the high court is moving too quickly on politically fraught cases, raising concerns in a dissent that the justices are short-circuiting proper judicial review over expediency. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025

First, the president — who is often regarded, especially by critics, as driven by purely transactional expediency — appears to believe in the cause. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expediency

noun

ex·​pe·​di·​en·​cy ik-ˈspēd-ē-ən-sē 

plural expediencies

: the use of expedient means and methods