bargain-basement

1 of 2

adjective

bar·​gain-base·​ment ˈbär-gən-ˈbās-mənt 

1

: of inferior quality or worth

2

: markedly inexpensive

bargain-basement rates

bargain basement

2 of 2

noun

: a section of a store (such as the basement) where merchandise is sold at reduced prices

Synonyms

Adjective

• affordable
• budget
• cheap
• cheapie
• cheapo
• chintzy
• cut-price [chiefly British]
• cut-rate
• dime-store
• dirt cheap
• el cheapo
• inexpensive
• low
• low-end
• popular
• reasonable

Examples of bargain-basement in a Sentence

Adjective

throughout the trip we ate at bargain-basement restaurants in order to save money

bargain-basement shoes that fell apart after a week

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Yet precisely because of the genre’s typically bargain-basement production costs, its ultrazealous fandom, and a powerful word-of-mouth pass-along arguably unmatched throughout cinema, horror can seem at risk of becoming a victim of its own success. —Chris Lee, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

At the same time, sellers have been reluctant to give up bargain-basement mortgage rates obtained before the Federal Reserve started raising borrowing costs in the winter of 2022 to control inflation. —Jeff Collins, Orange County Register, 9 Oct. 2024

Noun

Each year, the tech giant brings bargain basement prices on everything from electronics, clothes, office supplies and more to a computer screen near you. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 25 June 2024

More than 18,000 books, CDs and DVDs will be sold at bargain basement prices. —Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez, The Denver Post, 4 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above