basement

noun

base·​ment ˈbās-mənt 

1

: the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level

2

: the ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture

3

: the lowest or fundamental part of something

specifically : the rocks underlying stratified rocks

4

chiefly New England : a toilet or washroom especially in a school

5

a

: a low state, rank, or condition

With their stock in the basement and red ink all over their balance sheet, many struggling [companies] are finding that fund-raising has become an exceedingly difficult proposition.

—Brad Stone

b

: the lowest place in the standings : cellar sense 2

Last year, the Phillies finished in the basement of the NL East with 68 wins, tied with the Cubs for the fewest wins in the league.

—Boston Herald

basementless

ˈbās-mənt-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms of basement

• cellar

Examples of basement in a Sentence

we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter

the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of the city’s population of about a half-million fled but many hid in basements, said a former actor who huddled for months with his parents, saying they were nearly killed by the Russian bombing. —Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

Rounding out this nontraditional family are Reggie’s younger, aspiring-musician fiancée, Brina (Precious Way), and basement-dwelling best buddy, Bobby Moynihan’s Rusty, a goofy NFL never-was. —Judy Berman, Time, 20 Feb. 2026

Close to 100 people gathered in the large basement at the Schofield home, where Coyne Schofield’s husband — former Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos guard Michael Schofield — led the party efforts. —Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026

In the basement, a speakeasy called Night Owl will feature premium cocktails. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

base entry 1 or base entry 2 + -ment, probably after Italian basamento

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing basement

• bargain basement
• basement membrane
• finished basement/attic
• sub-basement

Rhymes for basement

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

Kids Definition

basement

noun

base·​ment ˈbās-mənt 

: the part of a building that is entirely or partly below ground level