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

• 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

Bold basement The basement/studio boasts another unique flooring feature: large, retro-colored squares of different sizes set against an orange background. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 7 Aug. 2025

Stratton hit a basement dropkick on Jade followed by a dive to the outside. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025

There was Saint Andrew’s Hall and its basement venue the Shelter, where artists often performed Friday nights before waking up and making their way to Seven Mile and Greenfield, site of the Hip Hop Shop’s open mics from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturdays. —Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 3 Aug. 2025

How to act during strong winds Take shelter: Immediately go inside a sturdy building during a high wind warning or severe thunderstorm warning and move to an interior room or basement. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2025

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