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
These were more like bargain-basement metal plates that filled a portion of his mouth. Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025 Not too long ago, Western markets were subtly dismissing Chinese cars for coming off as bargain-basement alternatives. New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Warners’ once bargain basement stock price has doubled since then, with shares hitting a three-year high Tuesday, rising 11%. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025 Rather than scouring Ligue 1’s bargain basement, the emphasis was on finding elite-level players who could improve an already successful team. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Bargain-basement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bargain-basement. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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