Understanding the Difference Between Expeditious and Expedient

Understanding the Difference Between Expeditious and Expedient

The words “expeditious” and “expedient” sound similar but have different meanings.

“Expeditious” means done quickly and efficiently. It comes from the Latin word “expeditus”, meaning unimpeded.

– I need an expeditious response to the email.
– The delivery was expeditious, it arrived the next day.
– She finished her homework in an expeditious manner.
– The company promised an expeditious resolution to the issue.
– The firefighters provided an expeditious response to the emergency.

“Expedient” means suitable for achieving a particular purpose, even if not always morally right. It also comes from Latin “expediens,” which means useful.

– Lying is not an expedient way to solve the problem.
– Some politicians make expedient decisions to win votes.
– It may be expedient to postpone the meeting until next week.
– Taking a shortcut is not always expedient in the long run.
– She chose the most expedient route to avoid traffic.

A trick to remember the difference is: think of “expeDITious” as having the word “DIT” in it, which could stand for “Doing It Timely,” reminding you that it means fast and efficient. For “expeDIENT,” think of “It is ExpeDIENT to make wise choices,” reminding you that it means suitable for a purpose.

In summary, “expeditious” refers to doing things quickly and efficiently, while “expedient” means choosing the best action for a particular situation, even if it’s not always the right thing to do.