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

• cheap
• reasonable
• inexpensive
• affordable

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

Wasson's shoppers were typically middle class, while Goldblatt's was known as a bargain-basement department store, and Indianapolis shoppers noticed the lack of quality merchandise. —Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

In response to recent slowdowns in overall visitation to the city, many overnight and day-trip destinations have rolled out bargain-basement deals on accommodations, parking, admissions and more. —Matt Villano, CNN Money, 25 June 2025

Noun

Amazon's annual mega sale brings bargain basement prices on everything from electronics, clothes, office supplies and more to a computer screen near you. —Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 July 2025

Lululemon is suing Costco for manufacturing and selling clothing that looks like their own high-end athleisure at bargain basement prices. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bargain-basement

• abasement
• debasement
• defacement
• displacement
• effacement
• emplacement
• encasement
• misplacement
• outplacement
• replacement
• basement
• placement