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Definition of stopgap

stopgap

/ˈstɑːp.ɡæp/
stop · gap
Plural:stopgaps
•
Adjective:stopgap
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stopgap Lexical Profile

stopgap Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Serving as a temporary substitute, solution, or measure until a more permanent one can be put in place.

Example

"Congress passed a stopgap funding bill to keep government agencies operating through the end of the month."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need; an improvised substitute.

Example

"Hiring freelance contractors was only meant to be a stopgap until we could recruit a full-time engineering team."

Synonyms
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• Nearby Words

stop
stop sign
stopcock
stopgap
stoplight
stoplight loosejaw
stopover

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 16th century as a compound of 'stop' (in the sense of plugging or blocking) and 'gap', originally referring literally to something used to fill a physical breach in a wall or hedge before taking on its figurative sense of a temporary substitute.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stopgap. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stopgap
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