stopgap
stop·gap/ˈstɑpˌɡæp/noun, adjective, verb
stopgap is spelled S-T-O-P-G-A-P: 7 letters and 2 syllables (stop·gap). It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 59,387th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, stopgap means “That which stops up or fills a gap or hole” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of stopgap is stopgaps.
How many letters and syllables are in stopgap?
| Letters | 7: S-T-O-P-G-A-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: stop·gap |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 59,387th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is stopgap?
Stopgap appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 59,387th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce stopgap?
- UK /ˈstɒpɡæp/
- US /ˈstɑpˌɡæp/
Stopgap has 2 syllables, split stop·gap in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-stopgap.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with stopgap
Also written: stop-gap (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of stopgap
- stopgaps plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- stop-gap
- stuff gap rare
- stopgapping participle, present
- stopgapped participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does stopgap mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
rareThat which stops up or fills a gap or hole.
- 2
Something spoken to fill up an uncomfortable pause in speech; a filled pause or filler.
- 3
A short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained; that which serves as an expedient in an emergency; a band-aid solution.
The small company used their old product with a few kludged enhancements as a stopgap until they could develop a new product.
- 4
A person appointed or hired to fill a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire can be made; a temp.
adjective
- 1
Short-term; temporary.
They put a stopgap solution in place, but need something more permanent.
- 2
Filling a gap or pause.
verb
- 1
To stop up or fill (a physical gap or hole, or a hiatus).
- 2
To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained.
- 3
To work at a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire is made.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Stopgap in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | bouche-trou, pis-aller, rustine |
| German | Lückenbüßer, Lückenfüller, Lochstopfer, Notlösung |
| Spanish | paños calientes, paliativo, parche, remiendo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does stopgap come from?
The noun is derived from stop (“to close or block (an opening)”) + gap, from the phrase to stop a gap. The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun, and the verb is derived from the noun.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).