expedient

1 a temporary replacement if you're a spectator caught without rainwear at a sporting event, then a plastic garbage bag makes an acceptable, if unfashionable, expedient Synonyms makeshift, stopgapRelated Words quick fix; recourse, refuge, resort; alternate, backup, standby, stand-in, substitute, understudy

2 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result he vowed to use any expedient available to get the project done on time Synonyms measure, means, move, shift, stepRelated Words act, action, deed, doing, feat, thing; course, procedure, proceeding, process; accomplishment, achievement, attainment, coup, exploit, success, triumph; activity, affair, business, dealing, enterprise, event; attempt, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, initiative, operation, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, undertaking, whack; effort, exertion, labor, pains, trouble, while, work; project, proposal, proposition; makeshift, resort, resource, stopgap; countermeasure, countermove, counterstep

3 something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available since there wasn't a single bandage left in our backpacks, we had to use a bandanna, our only expedient Synonyms resource, recourse, resortRelated Words hope, opportunity, possibility, relief; makeshift, replacement, stopgap, substitute