Convenient and practical, though possibly improper or immoral; done for advantage rather than for what is right. Something that serves one's immediate interests, often at the expense of principles.
From Latin expedire meaning 'to free one's feet, to extricate.' Originally referred to removing obstacles from one's path. The meaning evolved to describe actions that clear the way forward, even if they compromise ethics.
Think of 'expedient' as taking the express lane through ethics - it gets you there faster, but you might cut some corners! The 'exped-' root connects to 'expedition' and 'expedite,' all about moving forward quickly.
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