Inexpedient

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪnɪkˈspiːdi.ənt/

Definitions

1. Not practical, advisable, or suitable for achieving a particular purpose or goal
2. Unwise or counterproductive to carry out in a given situation
3. Likely to cause harm or fail to produce a desired result if undertaken

Etymology: "Inexpedient" is simply "expedient" with the negating prefix "in-" attached, so its history is essentially the history of "expedient." That root comes from Latin "expedire," which literally meant "to free the feet," from "ex-" (out) and "pes" (foot), a image of disentangling someone from a snare or a tangle. From the sense of getting free of an obstacle came the idea of making things ready or clearing a path, and so "expedient" came to describe what was useful or advantageous for getting something done. The negative "in-" comes from Latin, and it is the same prefix found in "inadvisable" or "incapable." Attached to "expedient," it produced a word meaning the opposite: something that does not clear the way, is not practical, or fails to advance a goal.

Synonyms: unwise, imprudent, inadvisable, ill-advised

Antonyms: expedient, wise, advisable, beneficial