# makeshift

/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/ (US) · /mˈeɪkʃɪft/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/makeshift
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

made quickly using whatever materials you have around you because you do not have the right tools or equipment. It is usually a temporary solution to a problem.

For teachers: serving as a temporary substitute for something else; improvised from available resources. Often describes physical structures or tools created in an emergency or under resource constraints.

## Examples

- They used a piece of wood as a makeshift table.
- After the storm destroyed the bridge, the villagers built a makeshift crossing using fallen trees and thick rope.
- The refugees established a makeshift clinic in the abandoned warehouse, utilizing crates as examination tables and battery-powered lanterns for lighting during night shifts.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before the noun it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.