stopgapstop‧gap /ˈstɒpɡæp $ ˈstɑːp-/ noun [countable] 
It’s only a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The first house we bought was only a stopgap, until we could afford something we really liked.
- The Senate has passed a stopgap funding measure.
- But Legacy was more of a stopgap than a serious WordStar product, a tester, you might say.
- For quite some time many people will find a job to be a workable stopgap solution to the need for an income.
- It is not a stopgap but a proper part of the cinematic arts.
- Retaining employees means less time and money wasted on recruiting and training temporary stopgaps.
- They find themselves indulging in crisis management and employing stopgap solutions and holding operations.
- This move proved a mere stopgap until the appearance of the last pre-republican premier, the moderate conservative Shahpur Bakhtiar.
Longman Language Activatorcontinuing or existing for only a limited period of time
· I'm sure this is only a temporary problem.· These arrangements are only intended to be temporary until an alternative is found.· Temporary shelters were hastily constructed as the refugees started to pour in.temporary job/employment · I've got a temporary secretarial job, but I'm hoping to find something more permanent.temporary staff/teacher/worker etc (=who is temporary) · There are always plenty of temporary workers available during the summer months.temporary accommodation · Because of damage to their homes, many people had to stay in temporary accommodation for a few months.
continuing, or intended to continue, for only a short time: · Quite a lot of our staff are employed on short term contracts.· The development programme was established on a short-term basis, just over a year ago.· The Prime Minister emphasized the need to look to the future, rather than only considering the short-term results.short-term memory (=the ability to remember things that happened recently): · She can still remember things that happened fifty years ago, but her short-term memory is terrible!
a provisional arrangement is temporary and can be changed or replaced in the future: · The management has made a provisional pay offer of 7%.· Following a series of provisional governments, the Dominican people elected Juan Bosch as their President.· I've made a booking at the hotel, but it's only provisional - I'll have to confirm it soon.a provisional licence British (=a driving licence that you have while you are learning to drive): · You have to get a provisional licence until you pass your test.
an interim report, measure, arrangement etc is one that is used temporarily until a final or complete one is ready: · Eventually an interim agreement on arms control was reached.· The actual sales figures were 20% higher than those estimated in the interim report in July.· The government will announce interim measures to tackle fuel shortages.
something that is done or used for a short time because there is an immediate need for it, but is replaced as soon as possible with something that is better - use this especially to show disapproval: · The first house we bought was only a stopgap, until we could afford something we really liked.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It’s only a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.
something or someone that you use for a short time until you can replace them with something better: It’s only a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution. It’s only a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.