stopgap

American  

[stop-gap] / ˈstɒpˌgæp /

noun

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

   Candles are a stopgap when the electricity fails.

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adjective

1. makeshift.

   This is only a stopgap solution.

   Synonyms:

   impromptu, substitute, temporary, improvised

stopgap British  

/ ˈstɒpˌɡæp /

noun

1. 1. a temporary substitute for something else

   2. ( as modifier )

      a stopgap programme

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Etymology

Origin of stopgap

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

Example Sentences

But stopgap measures can only go so far.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Any solution you can find to the woes of space is essentially a stopgap measure designed to keep astronauts relatively healthy for six-month stretches.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2026

The package passed by the Senate aims to keep the government open through September while allocating stopgap funding for the Department of Homeland Security as negotiations continue over the department’s budget.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 2, 2026

Reports like that are helpful as a stopgap but can’t replace the government’s efforts to gather data that cover the whole economy, UBS economist Alan Detmeister said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Either way, we were well past the point of any sort of stopgap treatment.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• Band-Aid