stopgap

[stop-gap]

noun

1. something that fills the place of something else that is lacking; temporary substitute; makeshift.

   Candles are a stopgap when the electricity fails.

adjective

1. makeshift.

   This is only a stopgap solution.

   Synonyms: impromptu, substitute, temporary, improvised

stopgap

/ ˈstɒpˌɡæp /

noun

1. 1. a temporary substitute for something else

   2. ( as modifier )

      a stopgap programme

Word History and Origins

Origin of stopgap¹

First recorded in 1525–35; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stop a gap

Example Sentences

What’s Next: Senate Majority Leader John Thune gave senators a four-day weekend and said the Senate will return on Tuesday, when the next vote on a stopgap funding measure could be scheduled.

Read more on Barron's

Dozens of Democrats have urged Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the House to approve stopgap funding, but he hasn’t committed to House members coming back to Capitol Hill next week.

Read more on Barron's

Democrats voted for a sixth time to block a Republican stopgap funding measure to reopen government departments.

Read more on Barron's

Democratic leaders, who oppose Republicans’ stopgap funding measure on the grounds that it fails to restore healthcare cuts enacted over the summer that affect millions of Americans, were swift to criticize the plan.

Read more on Barron's

Early Wednesday, the federal government ceased non-essential operations after Congress failed to pass a stopgap funding measure to keep the doors open.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• Band-Aid