makeshift

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "makeshift" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is temporary or improvised, often used in situations where a quick solution is needed. An example: "They used a makeshift table for the outdoor event." Alternative expressions include "temporary solution," "improvised," and "stopgap."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Valencia were forced to field a makeshift defence with the centre-backs Adil Rami and Ricardo Costa both injured, as well as the full-back João Pereira who was ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury during training on Tuesday.

The Guardian - Sport

At one point Abramovic perches on a makeshift bed, with coffins lined up at the side, while Hegarty sings with his back to the audience.

The Guardian - Music

Fahmy was arrested in a raid on a makeshift office suite in Cairo's Marriott hotel along with Peter Greste, a veteran Australian reporter, freelance producer Baher Mohamed and cameraman Mohamed Fawzy, who has since been released.

The Guardian

But, led by makeshift five-eighth Bryce Cartwright, the hosts crossed three times in eight minutes to level the game with a quarter of it to go.

The Guardian - Sport

Not content with its existing roles as pub of choice for Generation Preload, mid-week curry house, and makeshift community centre, JD Wetherspoon is looking to corner the breakfast market, with price cuts (a traditional breakfast will have 40p shaved off its price, while coffee with free refills is dropping from £1.15 to 99p) and an expanded morning menu.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Most Guinean children do not attend school, those that do sit in makeshift classrooms with upwards of 85 other children.

The Guardian

Makeshift ambulances were delivering wounded men to the hospital.

The Guardian

One contractor told Guardian Australia: "They were just makeshift beds.

The Guardian

Along with two other women, Jandyra, aged 27, was met by the gang's driver at the bus station so as to hide the makeshift clinic's address, and driven to a rented home in a private condominium.

The Guardian

The goal deflated a hard-working makeshift Gretna side and the defeat completed a thoroughly miserable week for the team stranded at the bottom of the SPL.

The Guardian - Sport

These makeshift rural bars open seasonally to sell the latest harvest of country wine.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports journalism, "makeshift" is an excellent choice to describe a team or defensive line composed of players out of their usual positions.

Common error

Ensure you write "makeshift" as a single word. Splitting it into two words ("make shift") creates a verb phrase that usually makes no sense in context, as the term evolved from the phrase 'to make shift' (to manage), but is now exclusively used as an adjective or compound noun.

Linguistic Context

Primarily used as an adjective, "makeshift" modifies nouns to indicate that the object is a temporary, often inferior, substitute for the real thing. It can also function as a noun, though this is less common in modern usage. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent role in describing physical structures or organizational lineups that have been quickly put together.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Sport

10%

Travel & Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Academic

2%

Scientific

1%

Legal

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As demonstrated by the extensive data from Ludwig, "makeshift" is a highly effective adjective used to describe objects and situations born of necessity. Whether describing a "makeshift hospital" in a conflict zone or a "makeshift defence" in a football match, the word consistently implies a temporary, functional, yet often insubstantial solution. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase follows standard grammar rules and is a staple of professional journalism. Its high frequency in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist underscores its reliability in serious writing. Writers should use it to highlight resourcefulness and the temporary nature of a subject, while being careful not to confuse it with more formal terms like "<a href="/s/provisional" target="_blank" rel="alternative">provisional" if the context involves official legal or government status.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improvised

Focuses on the act of creating something without prior preparation rather than just its temporary state.

stopgap

Often used as a noun or adjective to describe a temporary way of dealing with a problem until a permanent solution is found.

jury-rigged

Implies a clever but temporary repair, often using whatever materials are at hand, frequently with a nautical or mechanical connotation.

temporary

A more neutral term that simply indicates a limited duration without implying the quality of construction.

make-do

More colloquial, suggesting a solution that is barely adequate but serves its purpose for the moment.

ad hoc

A Latinate term meaning created for a specific purpose or situation, often implying a lack of long-term planning.

provisional

Used in more formal or official contexts to describe something that is expected to be changed later.

hastily assembled

Emphasizes the speed and potential lack of care in the creation process.

thrown together

Informal and slightly critical, suggesting a lack of skill or attention to detail.

repurposed

Implies using an existing object for a new, often unintended, temporary function.

FAQs

How do I use "makeshift" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adjective before a noun to show something is temporary, for example: "They used a <a href="/s/makeshift+table" target="_blank" rel="alternative">makeshift table for the outdoor event."

What can I say instead of "makeshift"?

Depending on your tone, you can use "<a href="/s/improvised" target="_blank" rel="alternative">improvised" for clever solutions, "<a href="/s/temporary" target="_blank" rel="alternative">temporary" for duration, or "<a href="/s/stopgap" target="_blank" rel="alternative">stopgap" for a functional replacement.

What is the difference between "makeshift" and "improvised"?

While similar, "makeshift" usually emphasizes the physical, often low-quality materials used (like a "<a href="/s/makeshift+shelter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">makeshift shelter"), whereas "<a href="/s/improvised" target="_blank" rel="alternative">improvised" often refers to the spontaneous action or performance itself.

Is "makeshift" a positive or negative word?

It is generally neutral but carries connotations of resourcefulness. However, in contexts like "<a href="/s/makeshift+slums" target="_blank" rel="alternative">makeshift slums", it highlights poverty and a lack of proper infrastructure.