Ad Hoc is a Latin phrase that literally translates to "for this" and 'formed with a particular purpose". Ad hoc can be anything that it thrown together temporarily.
A really good way to remember ad hoc, is that it is a term used for committees in the House of Representatives that are in place to fulfil a short term goal and are then dissolved.
I was in a political science class a few semesters back. I adored the teacher I had, and am planning on taking another one of his classes (no, I am not addicted, this will only be my third). Anyway, this teacher liked to use words that many of us students hadn't ever heard before, he liked to use words that expanded our minds, he liked to use words that made him sound over-educated and pretentious. He was great. I liked to ask him what these words meant; he threatened to buy me a dictionary.
This professor while teaching us about American political systems used the term ad hoc to describe committees in the House of Representatives that were temporary, and put in place to fulfil a short term goal, and then dissolved when no longer needed.
So, what can I say? I liked what I was learning in this class. I too wanted to sound well educated and pretentious. Yes, I started to use the term ad hoc as well. If you are around me long enough, you will catch me using it now and again, but don't ask me to use it in a sentence right then and there because you will probably get something like. 'You expect to me to use it so ad hoc that I cannot think of a really good sentence to use it in!"
I have been getting low votes on my write up. If you would tell me which write up you like the most I will delete the other. Thanks