Expedite and expedient are two words that are sometimes confused. We will examine the differing definitions of expedite and expedient, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Expedite means to make something happen faster, to speed up a process or project. Expedite is a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are expedites, expedited, expediting, expediter. The word expedite is derived from the Latin word expedire, which means to disengage, to put in order, literally meaning to free the feet from fetters.
Expedient describes an action that may be of practical value or may make things more convenient, but is not necessarily moral or proper. However, expedient may also simply describe an action that is advantageous to obtain a desired result, without jeopardizing morals or propriety. The word expedient may be used as an adjective or a noun. It is derived from the Latin word expedientem which means beneficial.
Examples
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today urged the Rajasthan Government to expedite the long-pending issue of Pong Dam oustees’ rehabilitation in a time-bound manner so that the families of oustees could be rehabilitated. (The Tribune)
The Parliament of Zimbabwe has written to Chinese contractors to expedite commencement of construction of a new parliament building in the outskirts of Harare. (News Ghana)
“The confidential, expedient and compassionate handling of shared telephone plans for victims of domestic violence is an important step in ensuring their protection and rehabilitation,” Boscola wrote in a co-sponsorship letter. (The Carlisle Sentinel)
What’s more, if Trump sees his second travel ban as a more politically expedient version of the first, it seems all the more reasonable to assume that he saw the initial travel ban as a more politically expedient version of his campaign’s Muslim ban. (New York Magazine)