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Definition of expedience

expedience

/ɪkˈspiː.di.əns/
ex · pe · di · ence
Adverb:expediently
•
Plural:expediences
•
Adjective:expedient
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expedience Lexical Profile

expedience Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality of being convenient, practical, and suited to achieving a particular purpose, sometimes at the expense of what is morally right or fair.

Example

"The committee chose a policy of short-term political expedience rather than addressing the underlying structural issues."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for expedience
Antonyms
View all antonyms for expedience

Word Nuance & Usage

"Expedience" and "expediency" are largely interchangeable, though "expediency" is significantly more common in modern English and more frequently carries the negative connotation of sacrificing moral principles for practical convenience.

• Rhymes for expedience

• Nearby Words

expectedly
expecting
expectingly
expedience
expedient
expediently
expedite

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Late Middle English via Old French from Latin expedientia, from the present participle of expedire ("to free the feet from fetters" or "to make ready"), combining ex- ("out") and pes, pedis ("foot").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Expedience. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/expedience
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