means to an end

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /miːnz tuː ən ɛnd/

Noun

means to an end (plural means to an end or means to ends)

1. A method by which a goal is achieved.
   • 2019 May 5, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club‎^[1], archived from the original on 28 January 2021:

     Daenerys has seen herself as avenging the wrongs done to her from the first season; she didn’t really need another to add to her list. The way they’re handled, Missandei’s death, as well as Rhaegal’s, amount to chess pieces being removed from the board. They deserve better than being a means to an end, even on a show that’s often treated death (and life) as a game to be beaten.

Antonyms

• end in itself

Translations

method by which a goal is achieved

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: keino (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: please add this translation if you can
• German: Mittel zum Zweck n
• Spanish: medio para un fin m