bargain-basement

1 of 2

adjective

bar·​gain-base·​ment ˈbär-gən-ˈbās-mənt How to pronounce bargain-basement (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for bargain-basement 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bargain-basement was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near bargain-basement

bargain away

bargain-basement

bargain basement

Cite this Entry

“Bargain-basement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bargain-basement. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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