makeshift
Say it: MAYK-shift /ˈmeɪkʃɪft/ · adjective
What “makeshift” means
Put together as a temporary replacement for something proper.
More precisely: Serving as a temporary, improvised substitute.
Example: “During the move, a stack of boxes became my makeshift standing desk.”
When to use it
For improvised things used until a proper replacement is available. Neutral everyday language, sometimes admiring someone's practical ingenuity.
Similar words
improvised, temporary, stopgap
Quick check
When a table leg breaks, you prop that corner on a stack of bricks until repairs. The support is…
makeshift or permanent?
Show the answer
makeshift
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