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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

makeshift en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

Etymology

Deverbal from make shift. First appears c. 1554, in the publications of H. Hilarie.

Meanings

  1. Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.
    • The first US service members to die in the conflict between the US and Iran were killed by a direct Iranian strike on a makeshift operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait on Sunday morning local time, a source familiar with the situation told CNN. 2026 March 2, Haley Britzky, “No warning, no siren: Six US service members killed in Iranian strike that hit makeshift operations center in Kuwait”, in CNN, archived from the original on 06 Mar 2026:
    • Hodgson was able to introduce Arsenal teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his debut late on as this makeshift England line-up closed out a victory that was solid for the most part without ever threatening to be spectacular. 2012 May 26, Phil McNulty, “Norway 0-1 England”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 25 Jun 2021:
    • They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
make-shift alternative lexicographic
most makeshift Degree=Sup lexicographic
more makeshift Degree=Cmp lexicographic
make shift alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

makeshiftness · makeshifty

Synonyms

extemporaneous · jury-rigged

Translations (45)

de behelfsmäßig (made to work or suffice) · nl nood- (made to work or suffice) · cmn 湊合的 /凑合的 (made to work or suffice) · nl geïmproviseerd (made to work or suffice) · ja 間に合わせの (made to work or suffice) · no nødløsning (made to work or suffice) · ja 仮の (made to work or suffice) · nl tijdelijk (made to work or suffice) · cmn 因陋就簡的 /因陋就简的 (made to work or suffice) · cmn 臨時代用的 /临时代用的 (made to work or suffice) · he חלופי (made to work or suffice) · hi कामचलाऊ (made to work or suffice) · he ארעי (made to work or suffice) · fi tilapäis- (made to work or suffice) · hi चलाऊ (made to work or suffice) · hi जोड़-तोड़ (made to work or suffice) · no improvisert (made to work or suffice) · sv provisorisk (made to work or suffice) · cmn 简易的 (made to work or suffice) · cs provizorní (made to work or suffice) · nl voorlopig (made to work or suffice) · cmn 臨時搭建的 /临时搭建的 (made to work or suffice) · eu behin-behineko (made to work or suffice) · pl prowizoryczny (made to work or suffice) · it provvisorio (made to work or suffice) · ru импровизи́рованный (made to work or suffice) · gd sealach (made to work or suffice) · cmn 就地取材的 (made to work or suffice) · ca provisional (made to work or suffice) · pt improvisado (made to work or suffice) · ru самоде́льный (made to work or suffice) · it arraffazzonato (made to work or suffice) · it improvvisato (made to work or suffice) · ru вре́менный (made to work or suffice) · ro provizoriu (made to work or suffice) · de provisorisch (made to work or suffice) · he מאולתר (made to work or suffice) · ht fortin (made to work or suffice) · fr improvisé (made to work or suffice) · fr de fortune (made to work or suffice) · it di fortuna (made to work or suffice) · cs dočasný (made to work or suffice) · cs improvizovaný (made to work or suffice) · fi hätävara- (made to work or suffice) · nl provisorisch (made to work or suffice)

makeshift en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

Etymology

Deverbal from make shift. First appears c. 1554, in the publications of H. Hilarie.

Meanings

  1. A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
    • And I am not a model clergyman—only a decent makeshift. 1871, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter XVII, in Middlemarch […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book II, page 316:
    • Hoboism cannot be cured or prevented by makeshifts or by local measures and efforts, although community interest naturally is vital in dealing with a problem that comes home to every community. 1923, Benjamin C. Marsh, “For the Community to Do”, in The World tomorrow, volume 6:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
make shift alternative lexicographic
make-shift alternative lexicographic
makeshifts Number=Plur lexicographic

Translations (20)

it improvvisazione (temporary substitution) · cs provizórium (temporary substitution) · ga siocair (temporary substitution) · nl noodoplossing (temporary substitution) · de Notbehelf (temporary substitution) · pl prowizorka (temporary substitution) · he תחליף (temporary substitution) · ru вре́менная заме́на (temporary substitution) · de Notlösung (temporary substitution) · cs dočasná náhrada (temporary substitution) · pt improviso (temporary substitution) · ga ainmniúchas (temporary substitution) · es apaño (temporary substitution) · cmn 權宜之計 /权宜之计 (temporary substitution) · fi hätävara (temporary substitution) · de Provisorium (temporary substitution) · ga earra ionaid (temporary substitution) · ru вре́менное приспособле́ние (temporary substitution) · it ripiego (temporary substitution) · bg заместител (temporary substitution)

makeshift en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

1560s. From make + shift.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) A rogue; a shifty person.
    • Greene the coneycatcher, of this dream the author, / For his dainty devise deserveth the halter. / A rakehell, a makeshift, a scribbling fool; / A famous bayard in city and school: / Now sick as a dog, and ever brain-sick, / Where such a raving and desperate Dick? 1592, Gabriel Harvey, “The First Letter”, in Four Letters and Certain Sonnets, new edition, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, published 1814, A Due Commendation of the Quipping Author, page 2:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
make-shift alternative lexicographic
make shift alternative lexicographic
makeshifts Number=Plur lexicographic

Relateds

make shift