The term “ad hoc” is a Latin phrase that literally means “to this” and is commonly understood as meaning “for this purpose.” It can also be used to mean “as-needed.” It is commonly used in both business and government. settings.

What is ad hoc short for?

Ad hoc literally means "for this" in Latin, and in English this almost always means "for this specific purpose". Issues that come up in the course of a project often require immediate, ad hoc solutions.

What is an example of ad hoc?

What does ad hoc mean? Something ad hoc is put together on the fly for one narrow, pressing, or special purpose. For example, a government committee arranged to address one specific problem would be an ad hoc committee. More loosely, it can mean “spontaneous,” “unplanned,” or “on the spot.”