Explanation at your level:
If you do something quickly, you are fast. Expeditious is just a very fancy, professional way to say that you are fast and do a good job. You can use it when you talk about work or school projects.
When you are expeditious, you don't wait around. You finish your homework or chores quickly. It is a word adults use when they want to say someone is working very well and very fast.
Using expeditious helps you sound more serious. Instead of saying 'the quick response,' you can say 'the expeditious response.' It shows you know how to use precise vocabulary in a professional setting.
In B2 level English, you start using words that convey nuance. Expeditious implies a lack of 'friction' in a process. It is often used in legal, medical, or corporate contexts where time equals money.
At the C1 level, you recognize that expeditious is a 'register-specific' word. It is rarely used in casual conversation. It implies a high level of organization and strategic planning, rather than just raw speed.
Mastery of expeditious involves understanding its etymological roots in 'liberation from burdens.' It is often used in formal discourse to describe administrative efficiency. It is a high-register synonym for 'speedy' that avoids the informality of 'quick' while emphasizing the outcome-oriented nature of the action.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means fast and efficient.
- Used in formal settings.
- Comes from 'freeing the feet'.
- Verb form is 'expedite'.
When you hear the word expeditious, think of someone who is not just fast, but also very smart about their work. It is not just about rushing; it is about being efficient.
If a delivery service is expeditious, they don't just drive fast—they take the best route, avoid traffic, and get your package to your door in record time. It is a word that carries a sense of professionalism and competence.
The word expeditious comes from the Latin word expeditus, which actually meant 'to free the feet.' Imagine a soldier who has dropped his heavy baggage—he is now 'unencumbered' and can move much faster.
Over time, this evolved into the concept of 'expedition' (a journey) and eventually the adjective we use today. It retains that sense of being 'unburdened' by unnecessary obstacles.
You will mostly see expeditious in formal or business settings. It is a great word for emails or reports where you want to sound professional.
Commonly, we talk about an expeditious handling of a request or an expeditious response. It is slightly more formal than just saying 'fast' or 'quick' and adds a layer of polish to your language.
While expeditious is a formal adjective, it relates to many idioms about speed:
- Make haste slowly: Doing things carefully to ensure speed.
- In a jiffy: Very quickly.
- At breakneck speed: Moving very fast.
- Hit the ground running: Starting a task efficiently.
- Cut to the chase: Getting to the point quickly.
The word is pronounced ek-spi-DISH-us. It is an adjective, so it usually modifies a noun (e.g., 'an expeditious reply').
It is not used as a verb. If you want to use it as a verb, you would use expedite. Remember to keep the stress on the third syllable!
Fun Fact
It originally described soldiers who were freed from their heavy gear to march faster.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ek' sound, stress on 'dish'.
Very similar to UK, crisp 't' sound.
Common Errors
- Misplacing stress
- Dropping the 't'
- Confusing with 'expedient'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal vocabulary
Requires register awareness
Formal usage
Clear pronunciation
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective order
An expeditious, professional response.
Formal register
Using Latin-based words.
Verb/Adjective distinction
Expedite vs Expeditious.
Examples by Level
The bus was fast.
fast = quick
A1 uses simple adjectives
I did my work fast.
did = finished
Adverb usage
He runs very fast.
run = movement
Verb + adverb
The car is quick.
quick = fast
Adjective
We go home now.
go = move
Present tense
She is a fast reader.
reader = person
Adjective + noun
The train is early.
early = on time
Adjective
I finish my lunch.
finish = end
Verb
The team worked in an expeditious manner.
Please provide an expeditious reply.
We need an expeditious solution.
The service was very expeditious.
He is known for his expeditious work.
They made an expeditious exit.
An expeditious process saves time.
The shipment was handled in an expeditious way.
The manager requested an expeditious review of the files.
We are looking for an expeditious resolution to this problem.
The government promised an expeditious investigation.
Thanks for your expeditious handling of this matter.
The company prides itself on its expeditious delivery.
An expeditious response is required by tomorrow.
The project requires an expeditious approach.
We hope for an expeditious outcome.
The court ordered an expeditious trial to ensure justice.
The diplomat called for an expeditious withdrawal of troops.
The software allows for the expeditious processing of data.
We appreciate your expeditious attention to these details.
The committee ensured an expeditious transition of power.
The architect designed an expeditious construction plan.
The hospital implemented an expeditious triage system.
The bank offers an expeditious loan approval process.
The CEO demanded an expeditious restructuring of the firm.
The bureaucratic delay hindered an expeditious resolution.
The team's expeditious response mitigated the crisis.
The protocol ensures an expeditious flow of information.
The expeditious nature of the task required full focus.
The legislation was passed through an expeditious process.
The expeditious gathering of evidence was crucial.
The agency is known for its expeditious bureaucracy.
The expeditious execution of the mandate was exemplary.
The administrative body sought an expeditious conclusion to the inquiry.
His expeditious handling of the crisis averted disaster.
The expeditious clearance of the harbor was a priority.
The expeditious dissemination of the news was critical.
The expeditious deployment of resources proved effective.
The expeditious resolution of the conflict was unexpected.
The expeditious processing of the application was noted.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"at the speed of light"
extremely fast
The information traveled at the speed of light.
casual"in a flash"
very quickly
He finished the task in a flash.
casual"without delay"
immediately
Please sign the document without delay.
formal"at full tilt"
at maximum speed
The factory is running at full tilt.
neutral"post-haste"
with great speed
He sent the letter post-haste.
literary"in double-quick time"
very fast
She cleaned the room in double-quick time.
casualEasily Confused
Similar root
Expedient means practical/convenient, not just fast.
It was an expedient solution.
Same root
It is a noun meaning a journey.
The expedition was long.
Same root
It is the verb form.
Please expedite this.
Same meaning
Fast is casual; expeditious is formal.
He is fast vs. He is expeditious.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + expeditious
The process is expeditious.
Expeditious + noun + is + needed
An expeditious response is needed.
Handle + noun + in + an + expeditious + manner
Handle it in an expeditious manner.
Provide + an + expeditious + noun
Provide an expeditious solution.
Ensure + an + expeditious + noun
Ensure an expeditious delivery.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
6/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Expeditious is an adjective, expedite is the verb.
Don't say 'an expedition response'.
Expeditious sounds too formal for friends.
The root is 'expedite', not 'expedice'.
Expeditious implies efficiency, not just running fast.
Tips
The 'Foot' Trick
Remember 'ped' means foot, like pedal.
Professional Emails
Use it to praise someone's speed.
Business Etiquette
It shows you value time.
Adjective placement
Always before a noun.
The 'Dish' sound
Focus on the middle syllable.
Don't use as verb
Use 'expedite' instead.
Latin roots
It meant 'freeing feet'.
Collocation lists
Learn it with 'response'.
Avoid repetition
Use it instead of 'fast'.
Slow down
Enunciate the four syllables.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ex-ped-it-ious: 'Ex' (out) + 'ped' (foot). Get your feet out of the mud to move fast!
Visual Association
A runner shedding heavy weights to sprint.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'expeditious' in a work email today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To free the feet (ex + pes)
Cultural Context
None, but can sound cold if used in personal contexts.
Used heavily in corporate, legal, and government settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- expeditious handling
- expeditious response
- expeditious process
legal
- expeditious trial
- expeditious justice
- expeditious resolution
logistics
- expeditious delivery
- expeditious shipping
- expeditious transit
government
- expeditious action
- expeditious implementation
- expeditious review
Conversation Starters
"How do you ensure an expeditious workflow?"
"Have you ever received an expeditious response to a complaint?"
"Why is an expeditious resolution important in business?"
"Do you prefer an expeditious approach or a careful one?"
"Can you describe an expeditious person you know?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you needed an expeditious solution.
Describe a service that was not expeditious.
How can you be more expeditious in your daily life?
Why do companies value expeditious employees?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt implies efficiency, not just raw speed.
Usually not; it's for processes.
It is common in professional writing.
ek-spi-DISH-us.
No, it is an adjective.
Expedite.
Yes, it is a compliment.
It might sound too formal.
Test Yourself
The team was very ___ in finishing the job.
Expeditious means fast and efficient.
Which word is a synonym for expeditious?
Fast is a synonym.
Can you use 'expeditious' to describe a slow person?
It describes something fast.
Word
Meaning
Meaning matches.
She provided an expeditious response.
Score: /5
Summary
Expeditious is the professional way to describe a process that is both fast and efficient.
- Means fast and efficient.
- Used in formal settings.
- Comes from 'freeing the feet'.
- Verb form is 'expedite'.
The 'Foot' Trick
Remember 'ped' means foot, like pedal.
Professional Emails
Use it to praise someone's speed.
Business Etiquette
It shows you value time.
Adjective placement
Always before a noun.
Example
The delivery service promised an expedious arrival of the package within twenty-four hours.
Related Content
More Other words
abate
C1To become less intense, active, or severe, or to reduce the amount or degree of something. It is most commonly used to describe the subsiding of natural phenomena, emotions, or legal nuisances.
abcarndom
C1To intentionally deviate from a fixed sequence or established pattern in favor of a randomized or non-linear approach. It is often used in technical or analytical contexts to describe the process of breaking a structured flow to achieve a more varied result.
abcenthood
C1The state, condition, or period of being absent, particularly in a role where one's presence is expected or required. It often refers to a prolonged or systemic lack of participation in a social, parental, or professional capacity.
abcitless
C1A noun referring to the state of being devoid of essential logical progression or a fundamental missing component within a theoretical framework. It describes a specific type of structural absence that renders a system or argument incomplete.
abcognacy
C1The state of being unaware or lacking knowledge about a specific subject, situation, or fact. It describes a condition of non-recognition or a gap in cognitive awareness, often used in technical or specialized academic contexts.
abdocion
C1Describing a movement, force, or logical process that leads away from a central axis or established standard. It is primarily used in specialized technical contexts to describe muscles pulling a limb away from the body or ideas that diverge from a main thesis.
abdocly
C1Describing something that is tucked away, recessed, or occurring in a hidden manner that is not immediately visible to the observer. It is primarily used in technical or academic contexts to denote structural elements or biological processes that are concealed within a larger system.
aberration
B2A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome. It refers to a temporary change or a deviation from the standard path or rule.
abfacible
C1To systematically strip or remove the external surface or facade of a structure or material for analysis, restoration, or cleaning. It specifically refers to the technical act of uncovering underlying layers while preserving the integrity of the core material.
abfactency
C1Describing a quality or state of being fundamentally disconnected from empirical facts or objective reality. It is typically used to characterize arguments or theories that are logically consistent within themselves but have no basis in actual evidence. This term highlights a sophisticated departure from what is observable in favor of what is purely speculative.
