The term ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this" or "for this situation." It is used in English to describe something created or done for a specific, immediate purpose without prior planning
Key points about ad hoc:
- It often refers to solutions, committees, groups, or decisions formed specifically to address a particular problem or task.
- Ad hoc can be an adjective ("ad hoc committee") or an adverb ("decisions made ad hoc")
- It implies temporary, improvised, or specially tailored arrangements rather than general or permanent ones
- In everyday use, it can describe something done hastily or impromptu, sometimes with a sense of being makeshift or lacking long-term planning
- Examples include ad hoc committees, ad hoc networks (networks formed spontaneously as needed), or military units created for special circumstances
In summary, ad hoc denotes something designed or done for a particular, immediate purpose rather than something planned or general-purpose.
