Definitions
- Referring to the practice of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise, regardless of moral principles or long-term consequences. - Describing a behavior that prioritizes personal gain over ethical considerations or loyalty to others. - Talking about a strategy that seeks to maximize benefits by exploiting favorable circumstances.
- Referring to the practice of doing what is necessary or convenient at the moment, regardless of long-term consequences or ethical considerations. - Describing a behavior that prioritizes practicality and efficiency over moral principles or loyalty to others. - Talking about a strategy that seeks to achieve a goal in the most efficient and effective way possible.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to actions taken for immediate benefit.
- 2Both words prioritize practicality and efficiency over moral principles.
- 3Both words can be used to describe negative behaviors or strategies.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Opportunism emphasizes taking advantage of opportunities, while expediency emphasizes achieving a goal in the most efficient way possible.
- 2Moral considerations: Opportunism implies a lack of moral principles or loyalty to others, while expediency may involve weighing ethical considerations against practical concerns.
- 3Long-term consequences: Opportunism may ignore long-term consequences, while expediency may consider them to some extent.
- 4Connotation: Opportunism has a more negative connotation than expediency, which can be neutral or positive depending on the context.
- 5Scope: Opportunism is often associated with personal gain, while expediency can be applied to a wider range of situations, including organizational or societal goals.
Remember this!
Opportunism and expediency are both words that describe actions taken for immediate benefit, often at the expense of moral principles or long-term consequences. However, opportunism emphasizes taking advantage of opportunities without regard for ethics or loyalty, while expediency focuses on achieving a goal in the most efficient and practical way possible, sometimes considering ethical considerations. The former has a more negative connotation than the latter, which can be neutral or positive depending on the context.
