Adjective expedient Serving to promote your interest "was merciful only when mercy was expedient" Appropriate to a purpose; practical "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty" noun expedient A means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one noun expedience The quality of being suited to the end in view Taking advantage of opportunities without regard for the consequences for others expediency synonyms for expedience cowboy...

"expedient" in addition can be an adjective. As a noun "expedient" means some kind of mean for approaching a goal. It could be some method, way or trick. "expediency" and "expedience" have almost the same meaning. Appropriate synonyms are advisability and practicability. I'm not quite sure but "expediency" is used more often.