jerry-built

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdʒɛribɪlt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈdʒɛriˌbɪlt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling( jer′ē bilt′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
jer•ry-built /ˈdʒɛriˌbɪlt/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. built cheaply and not skillfully;
    shoddy:jerry-built housing.
  2. put together or developed in a disorganized way:a jerry-built motor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
jer•ry-built  ( jer′ē bilt′),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. built cheaply and flimsily.
  2. contrived or developed in a haphazard, unsubstantial fashion, as a project or organization.
  • jerry (as in jerry-build) + built 1865–70
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ramshackle, rickety, shoddy, slipshod.
'jerry-built' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
jerry - tacky

Forum discussions with the word(s) "jerry-built" in the title:


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