stopgap
noun
stop·gap
ˈstäp-ˌgap 
often attributive
: something that serves as a temporary expedient : makeshift
stopgap measures
Examples of stopgap in a Sentence
The new law is intended only as a stopgap.
the coach we have now was only hired as a stopgap until someone with more experience is found
Recent Examples on the Web
Ideally, lessons should begin at the start of a student’s education and not as a stopgap measure once students are already in high school or after a tragedy has occurred.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
Rover first envisioned this experimental off-roader, dubbed Land Rover, as a stopgap, keeping the company afloat until luxury-car production got back up to speed—but almost from the beginning, the Land Rover was a runaway success.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 18 June 2024
Without a budget on the books, lawmakers have resorted to passing stopgap measures to keep the state government open.
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, Congress passed a number of stopgap funding bills, along with smaller legislation on veterans and environmental issues.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stopgap 
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
Rover first envisioned this experimental off-roader, dubbed Land Rover, as a stopgap, keeping the company afloat until luxury-car production got back up to speed—but almost from the beginning, the Land Rover was a runaway success.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 18 June 2024
Without a budget on the books, lawmakers have resorted to passing stopgap measures to keep the state government open.
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, Congress passed a number of stopgap funding bills, along with smaller legislation on veterans and environmental issues.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stopgap
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stopgap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Stopgap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stopgap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stopgap
noun
stop·gap
ˈstäp-ˌgap
: something that fills a gap : a temporary substitute
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