WorldAugust 16, 2026
makeshift
MAKE-shift
Definition
Serving as a temporary substitute for something else, typically constructed quickly using whatever materials are available.
Etymology
Originating in the late 16th century, the word is a compound of 'make' and 'shift' (in the sense of a means of managing or contriving), referring to a temporary contrivance.
In the news
Residents in the disaster-struck area are living in makeshift tents because their homes were either destroyed or are too unsafe to occupy due to aftershocks.
Rescuers dig through rubble, landslides after Indonesia quake kills at least 47
Read the full article ↗The Boston Globe