Meaning

noun a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one

adjective serving to promote your interest

adjective appropriate to a purpose; practical

originFrom Middle English expedient, from Old French expedient, from Latin expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire (“to bring forward, to dispatch, to expedite; impers. to be profitable, serviceable, advantageous, expedient”), from ex (“out”) + pēs (“foot, hoof”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0