Opportunistically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Taking advantage of favorable circumstances for personal benefit while often ignoring previous plans or ethical considerations
2. Acting in a way that seizes immediate opportunities for self-interest, frequently at the expense of principles or commitments
3. Making choices based on immediate advantages for personal gain, often disregarding prior commitments or ethical standards

Etymology: The adverb "opportunistically" is built from "opportunistic" plus the English suffix "-ally," which turns adjectives into adverbs. The adjective itself is the more interesting piece. "Opportunist" is an English word formed from "opportune," which comes from Latin "opportunus," meaning "fitting, favourable, or convenient," a sense tied to the wind that brought a ship safely into port. That maritime picture of a wind blowing toward the harbour is the root of the idea of timely advantage. The "-istic" element in "opportunistic" is an adjectival ending built from "-ist" (one who practises something) and "-ic" (having the quality of), and the word "opportunistic" was formed in English from those pieces rather than arriving ready-made. "-ic" itself came into English through Old French and Latin, which explains the chain of borrowing shown in the source's family of suffixes.

Synonyms: advantageously, strategically