What does "stopgap" mean?
That which stops up or fills a gap or hole.
Stopgap
/ˈstɒpɡæp/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which stops up or fills a gap or hole.
- Grammar: stopgap is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: makeshift, acting turn, action, ad hoc.
- Useful contrasts: durable, lasting, lasting fix.
- Usage evidence: Stopgap measures won't make a dent in drug addiction.
How to use "stopgap"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "stopgap" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "stopgap" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "stopgap" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "stopgap" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "stopgap" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "makeshift" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "stopgap", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which stops up or fills a gap or hole. rare
"[A] bit of ink and paper which has long been an innocent wrapping or stop-gap may at last be laid open under the one pair of eyes which have knowledge enough to turn it into the opening of a catastrophe."
- 2 something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency wordnet
- 3 Something spoken to fill up an uncomfortable pause in speech; a filled pause or filler. figuratively
- 4 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. figuratively
"The small company used their old product with a few kludged enhancements as a stopgap until they could develop a new product."
- 5 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.; A person appointed or hired to fill a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire can be made; a temp. figuratively, specifically
"As witness the following. Mr Strudwick, the regular master of the form, happened on one occasion to be away for a couple of days, and a stop-gap was put in in his place. The name of the stop-gap was Mr Somerville Smith. He and Farnie exchanged an unspoken declaration of war almost immediately."
Verb
- 1 To stop up or fill (a physical gap or hole, or a hiatus). transitive
- 2 To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained. intransitive
- 3 To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained.; To work at a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire is made. intransitive, specifically
Adjective
- 1 Short-term; temporary. not-comparable
"They put a stopgap solution in place, but need something more permanent."
- 2 Filling a gap or pause. not-comparable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Stopgap measures won't make a dent in drug addiction."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "stopgap"?
Common synonyms include: makeshift, acting turn, action, ad hoc, ad hoc, ad hoc measure.
How do you use "stopgap" in a sentence?
Stopgap measures won't make a dent in drug addiction.
How do you pronounce "stopgap"?
Pronounced /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.