Word of the Day : May 20, 2022

ad hoc

play
adjective AD-HOCK

What It Means

Ad hoc means "concerned with a particular end or purpose" or "formed or used for specific or immediate problems or needs."

// An ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the matter.

// There was an unexpected change of plans and ad hoc solutions had to be made.

See the entry >

ad hoc in Context

"The council voted unanimously last fall to establish an ad hoc advisory strategic planning board tasked with writing a new long-range plan for the town." — Jodie Wagner, The Palm Beach (Florida) Daily News, 12 Apr. 2022


Did You Know?

In Latin ad hoc literally means "for this," and in English it describes anything that can be thought of as existing "for this purpose only." For example, an ad hoc committee is generally authorized to look into a single matter of limited scope, not to pursue any issue of interest. Ad hoc can also be used as an adverb meaning "for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application," as in "decisions were made ad hoc."



Quiz

Fill in the blanks to complete an adjective meaning "composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment": e _ t _ _ po _ a _ _ ous.

VIEW THE ANSWER

Podcast


More Words of the Day

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!