stopgap
C1Formal and Informal
Definition
Meaning
A temporary solution or measure to address an immediate need until a proper or permanent one can be found.
Can refer to a person, object, or plan used temporarily in place of the ideal, often implying insufficiency, makeshift nature, or urgency.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inherently carries a somewhat negative or provisional connotation, suggesting the solution is not ideal or sustainable. It is a closed compound noun, sometimes hyphenated (stop-gap) but less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is consistently 'stopgap' as a closed compound in both variants, though 'stop-gap' (hyphenated) is seen occasionally in older texts.
Connotations
Identical connotations of temporariness and inadequacy in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in political and administrative contexts, but commonly used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
act as a ~serve as a ~be a ~ for [noun]implement a ~put in place a ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A band-aid solution (similar informal metaphor)”
- “A sticking plaster (BrE, similar metaphor)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The interim manager was hired as a stopgap until a permanent CEO was recruited.
Academic
The researcher argued that the policy was merely a stopgap, failing to address the systemic causes.
Everyday
I used a paperback book as a stopgap to prop up the wobbly table leg.
Technical
The software update was a security stopgap until the full patch could be developed.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb use.
American English
- No standard verb use.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The stopgap funding was approved by the council for the next quarter only.
American English
- They passed a stopgap bill to avoid a government shutdown.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher was a stopgap while our regular teacher was ill.
- The new traffic lights are just a stopgap; a roundabout is planned for next year.
- Critics derided the tax cut as a fiscal stopgap that would exacerbate the budget deficit in the long run.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a leak in a pipe. You 'STOP' the water with a rag or 'GAP' filler. It works for now, but you need a plumber for a real fix.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE PHYSICAL GAPS/HOLES; TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS ARE MATERIALS USED TO PLUG THEM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'остановка пробела'.
- The Russian 'временная мера' or 'костыль' (colloquial) captures the meaning better than a literal translation.
- Do not confuse with 'stumbling block' (препятствие).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'We need to stopgap this issue'). It is primarily a noun.
- Spelling as two words: 'stop gap'. The standard is the compound 'stopgap'.
- Overusing in positive contexts; it typically implies insufficiency.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'stopgap' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not inherently negative but carries a strong connotation of being temporary, insufficient, or less than ideal. It is neutral in tone but describes an imperfect solution.
No, 'stopgap' is standardly used only as a noun or an attributive adjective (e.g., a stopgap measure). Using it as a verb is non-standard.
They are close synonyms. 'Makeshift' more strongly emphasizes something being improvised from whatever is available, while 'stopgap' emphasizes its role as a temporary substitute until the real thing arrives.
The closed compound 'stopgap' is the modern standard. 'Stop-gap' is an older variant that is now less common and can be considered dated.
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