stopgap

Meaning

Noun

1. (rare) That which stops up or fills a gap or hole.
2. (figuratively) Something spoken to fill up an uncomfortable pause in speech; a filled pause or filler.
3. (figuratively) A short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained; that which serves as an expedient in an emergency; a band-aid solution.
4. (figuratively, specifically) A short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained; that which serves as an expedient in an emergency; a band-aid solution.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Short-term; temporary.
2. (not-comparable) Filling a gap or pause.

Verb

1. (transitive) To stop up or fill (a physical gap or hole, or a hiatus).
2. (intransitive) To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained.
3. (intransitive, specifically) To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained.

Synonyms

makeshift

substitute

make-do

deputy

device

expedient

proxy

stuffing

temporary

wadding

locum tenens

stop-gap

temporary measure

built in a night

hastily written

band aid

near-term

bung

caretaker

Translations

Lückenbüßer

προσωρινό μέτρο

bouche-trou

Provisorium

παραγέμισμα

Lückenfüller

Notlösung

Übergangslösung

βραχυπρόθεσμος

μπάλωμα

Kurzzeit…

προσωρινή λύση

Notbehelf

à court terme

kurzfristig

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈstɒpɡæp/

Etymology

The noun is derived from stop (“to close or block (an opening)”) + gap, from the phrase to stop a gap. The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun, and the verb is derived from the noun.

Sentences

However , these designs were tall , open-topped stopgap designs with no protection for the crew .