rejig: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Informal, chiefly British. Used in business, technical, and conversational contexts.
Quick answer
What does “rejig” mean?
To organize or arrange something differently.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To organize or arrange something differently.
To make changes to the structure or system of something, often to improve efficiency or adapt to new circumstances; to rearrange or refashion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is far more common in British English. In American English, 'rejigger' is a common variant, though both are informal. 'Reconfigure', 'rearrange', or 'restructure' are more formal American alternatives.
Connotations
In BrE, it can sound slightly technical or managerial. In AmE, 'rejigger' can sound folksy or improvisational.
Frequency
High frequency in UK business/media. Low to medium in US, where 'rejigger' is more recognizable.
Grammar
How to Use “rejig” in a Sentence
[Subject] rejig [Object][Subject] rejig [Object] to [Infinitive]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rejig” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'll need to rejig the marketing strategy after the merger.
- The producer rejigged the entire third act of the play.
American English
- We had to rejigger the budget to account for the new equipment.
- Let's rejig the seating chart for the conference.
adverb
British English
- The plans were rejigged hastily after the client's call.
American English
- The software was rejiggered completely to fix the bug.
adjective
British English
- The rejig proposal was met with scepticism by the board.
- They presented a completely rejigged operational model.
American English
- The rejiggered timeline seems much more realistic.
- She showed us her rejigged portfolio.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common for discussing plans, budgets, personnel, or strategy changes.
Academic
Rare; 'restructure' or 'reconfigure' preferred.
Everyday
Used for discussing changes to plans, rooms, or routines.
Technical
Used in computing, engineering, and project management for adjustments to systems or designs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rejig”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rejig”
- Using it in overly formal contexts (e.g., an academic paper).
- Confusing it with 'rejigger' (more US) and using them interchangeably in UK contexts.
- Misspelling as 're-jig' (hyphen is sometimes used but less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily informal and is most at home in business, technical, and everyday spoken contexts. In formal writing, alternatives like 'reorganize', 'restructure', or 'reconfigure' are preferred.
A 'rejig' is typically a significant but not total change, an adjustment or rearrangement. An 'overhaul' implies a much more thorough, extensive, and fundamental examination and repair or renewal.
Essentially, yes, though 'rejigger' can sometimes imply a more makeshift or ingenious fix. Both are informal, but 'rejig' is standard in British English, while 'rejigger' is more common in American English.
Yes, though less common than the verb. Example: 'The department is in for a major rejig next quarter.'
To organize or arrange something differently.
Rejig: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈdʒɪɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈdʒɪɡ/ (rejig); /ˌriːˈdʒɪɡər/ (rejigger). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rejig the deckchairs (on the Titanic): to make trivial rearrangements while ignoring a major problem.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a JIG-saw puzzle. To RE-JIG it is to take the pieces and fit them together in a new way.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS PHYSICAL ASSEMBLY (jig as a tool for holding parts).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rejig' LEAST appropriate?