bar·gain-base·ment
ˈbär-gən-ˈbās-mənt 
1
: of inferior quality or worth
2
: markedly inexpensive
bargain-basement rates
: a section of a store (such as the basement) where merchandise is sold at reduced prices
Synonyms
Examples of bargain-basement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
At the other end of the spectrum is the bargain-basement deal the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting on quarterback Russell Wilson, whose one-year contract will pay him $1.21 million for the 2024 season.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Then Wish became the hot bargain-basement shopping app.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
His one-year $23.5 million deal almost looks like bargain-basement chump change compared to the Dodgers’ big-ticket players.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
But an attractive financing package masked bargain-basement quality, and today Ethiopia’s cell service remains notoriously unreliable, with many Ethiopians forced to walk for miles just to pick up a signal.
—Fred P. Hochberg, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2015
But while demand for endless shrimp surged, Red Lobster struggled to turn a profit while serving mounds of shellfish at a comparatively bargain-basement price.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
Before her bargain-basement hysterectomy, Eileen wrote a letter to Orwell, who was traveling, expressing her hope not to inconvenience him with her problem.
—Francine Prose, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
Analysts suggest a model starting around U.S. $25,000, to compete against Volkswagen’s own bargain-basement EV.
—Lawrence Ulrich, IEEE Spectrum, 21 June 2023
Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2016
Among his most famous advice to Buffett was to stop searching for only bargain basement prices.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023
In more pretentious environments, copping at bargain basement prices might be frowned upon.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Isadore, a skilled compositor and typesetter, opened a printing shop downtown, while Gertrude worked nearby in the corsetry section of Jordan Marsh’s bargain basement.
—Bob Hohler, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023
Value: The market is filled with griddles that are priced from bargain basement to sky-high.
—Brad Fenson, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023
Though his run with the Padres has yet to reach double digits, Sanchez has delivered the most aggressive and productive at-bats at the bargain basement cost of $1.5 million.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2023
The continued development of Dorance Armstrong, the selection of Sam Williams in the second round of the draft and the bargain basement addition of Dante Fowler in free agency more than compensated for the production Dallas lost with Gregory’s departure.
—David Moore, Dallas News, 11 Mar. 2023
Shop at the bargain basement.
—Bob Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Dec. 2022
Adjective
After multiple realtor changes and price chops, Grillo finally snagged the cool digs at a bargain-basement $6.6 million price, a nearly 50% discount off the original sticker.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
At the other end of the spectrum is the bargain-basement deal the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting on quarterback Russell Wilson, whose one-year contract will pay him $1.21 million for the 2024 season.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Then Wish became the hot bargain-basement shopping app.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
His one-year $23.5 million deal almost looks like bargain-basement chump change compared to the Dodgers’ big-ticket players.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
But an attractive financing package masked bargain-basement quality, and today Ethiopia’s cell service remains notoriously unreliable, with many Ethiopians forced to walk for miles just to pick up a signal.
—Fred P. Hochberg, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2015
But while demand for endless shrimp surged, Red Lobster struggled to turn a profit while serving mounds of shellfish at a comparatively bargain-basement price.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
Before her bargain-basement hysterectomy, Eileen wrote a letter to Orwell, who was traveling, expressing her hope not to inconvenience him with her problem.
—Francine Prose, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
Analysts suggest a model starting around U.S. $25,000, to compete against Volkswagen’s own bargain-basement EV.
—Lawrence Ulrich, IEEE Spectrum, 21 June 2023
Noun
The funds’ modus operandi is quite familiar by now: wait for a developing country to hit the skids, move in and buy the country’s debt at a bargain basement price, and then to go to court to sue for full repayment.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2016
Among his most famous advice to Buffett was to stop searching for only bargain basement prices.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023
In more pretentious environments, copping at bargain basement prices might be frowned upon.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Isadore, a skilled compositor and typesetter, opened a printing shop downtown, while Gertrude worked nearby in the corsetry section of Jordan Marsh’s bargain basement.
—Bob Hohler, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023
Value: The market is filled with griddles that are priced from bargain basement to sky-high.
—Brad Fenson, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023
Though his run with the Padres has yet to reach double digits, Sanchez has delivered the most aggressive and productive at-bats at the bargain basement cost of $1.5 million.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2023
The continued development of Dorance Armstrong, the selection of Sam Williams in the second round of the draft and the bargain basement addition of Dante Fowler in free agency more than compensated for the production Dallas lost with Gregory’s departure.
—David Moore, Dallas News, 11 Mar. 2023
Shop at the bargain basement.
—Bob Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bargain-basement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bargain-basement
Cite this Entry
“Bargain-basement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bargain-basement. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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