First Known Use: 1659
Dictionary
1ad hoc
adverb \ˈad-ˈhäk, -ˈhōk; ˈäd-ˈhōk\
Definition of AD HOC
: for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application
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Origin of AD HOC
Latin, for this
Rhymes with AD HOC
acock, air lock, alt-rock, amok, armlock, art-rock, backblock, ball cock, Balzac, bangkok, Bangkok, baroque, Bartók, bawcock, bedrock, bemock, bitstock, blackcock, blesbok, bloodstock, breechblock, burdock, buttstock, caprock, coldcock, crew sock, deadlock, defrock, dreadlock, dry dock, Dvořák, earlock, elflock, en bloc, epoch, fatstock, feedstock, fetlock, firelock, flintlock, forelock, foreshock, gamecock, gemsbok, gridlock, half cock, hard rock, havelock, haycock, headlock, headstock, heart block, hemlock, in stock, Iraq, jazz-rock, Kanak, Kazak, Kazakh, kapok, kneesock, Ladakh, Laubach, livestock, lovelock, matchlock, Mohock, Moloch, nostoc, o'clock, oarlock, padlock, peacock, penstock, petcock, pibroch, picklock, post hoc, punk rock, rhebok, rimrock, roadblock, rootstock, Rostock, rowlock, scalp lock, Schirach, seed stock, shamrock, Sheetrock, shell shock, sherlock, Ship Rock, shock jock, shot clock, shylock, Sirach, slickrock, Slovak, smock frock, snatch block, soft rock, springbok, steenbok, stopcock, sunblock, swage block, ticktock, time clock, time lock, traprock, unblock, uncock, undock, van Gogh, wall rock, warlock, wedlock, wheel lock, whipstock, woodblock, woodcock, wristlock, zwieback
2ad hoc
adjective
: formed or used for a special purpose
: made or done without planning because of an immediate need
Full Definition of AD HOC
1
a : concerned with a particular end or purpose <an ad hoc investigating committee> b : formed or used for specific or immediate problems or needs <ad hoc solutions>
2
: fashioned from whatever is immediately available : improvised <large ad hoc parades and demonstrations — Nat Hentoff>
See ad hoc defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of AD HOC
1879
Related to AD HOC
- Synonyms
- extemporaneous, ad-lib, down and dirty, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, improvisational, improvised, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unstudied
- Antonyms
- considered, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepared, rehearsed
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