Dictionary

opportunistic

if a crime is opportunistic, then that crime has been committed by someone because they have a chance to, and not because the crime was planned He added: "British organised crime gangs are fluid, flexible and opportunistic".
if a person or thing is described as opportunistic then that person uses every opportunity (or one particular opportunity) to gain power, money, publicity or unfair advantages etc This is an issue that should be decided by individuals and market forces, not by opportunistic politicians.

Phrase Bank

  • The trio acted predominantly as opportunistic thieves, stealing cars that had been left unattended and with the engines running on frosty mornings.
  • In a statement it described the bid as opportunistic and an attempt to 'exploit the short-term weakness in the financial and commodity markets'.
  • This opportunistic individual had not let the fact that his mother had no obvious disability prevent him from claiming the wheelchair assistance that he so plainly felt was her due.

Additional Notes

  • opportunistic insurance fraud claiming for an accident or crime that has not happened