Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Commercially produced; not homemade: Refers to items manufactured for general sale, as opposed to being custom-made or crafted individually.
   • Repeated regularly without thought or originality: Describes ideas, phrases, or expressions that are clichéd, standard, and lack personal creativity or adaptation.
   • Made for purchase and immediate use: Indicates that an item is available in a finished state, requiring no additional work or preparation from the buyer.

2. Noun:

   • A manufactured artifact available for purchase in advance: An item, such as a piece of clothing or furniture, that is produced in standard sizes or styles and sold in a finished state.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • She bought a ready-made dress for the party.
  • The politician's speech was full of ready-made phrases that lacked sincerity.
  • For a quick meal, he prefers ready-made sauces from the supermarket.

• Noun:

  • The artist was known for incorporating everyday ready-mades, like a bicycle wheel, into his sculptures.
  • Their kitchen was equipped with ready-mades, from the cabinets to the table.

Advanced Usage

• "Ready-made solution": A pre-existing answer or fix for a problem, often implying it is convenient but not necessarily tailored.

  • The software offers a ready-made solution for small businesses.

• "Ready-made excuse": A common or predictable excuse that requires no original thought.

  • He always has a ready-made excuse for being late.

Variants and Related Words

• Ready-to-wear (adj): Specifically for clothing, meaning manufactured in standard sizes and sold in finished condition. (e.g., )
• Off-the-shelf (adj): Available immediately from existing stock, not custom-made. Often used for software or products. (e.g., )
• Prefabricated (adj): Manufactured in sections for quick assembly on-site. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Pre-made
• Mass-produced
• Store-bought
• Conventional (for ideas/phrases)

Antonyms

• Custom-made
• Homemade
• Tailor-made
• Original (for ideas/phrases)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A ready-made audience": A group of people already predisposed to be interested in something.

  • The famous author had a ready-made audience for her new book.

• "Ready-made for something": Perfectly suited or ideal for a particular purpose.

  • His experience in diplomacy made him ready-made for the ambassador role.

Adjective

1. commercially produced; not homemade
   • ready-made clothes
2. repeated regularly without thought or originality
   • ready-made phrases
3. made for purchase and immediate use

Noun

1. a manufactured artifact (as a garment or piece of furniture) that is made in advance and available for purchase
   • their apartment was furnished with ready-mades