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

The actor was in the basement of the Gansevoort hotel at Dimes Seven24 for a pre-party hosted by styling duo Wayman + Micah, who had dressed Domingo for the event in a double-breasted tweed suit by Eleven Sixteen. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 5 May 2025

Cops said in at least one instance, Boyd chained one girl to a pole in his basement with just a piece of bread to eat and a puddle of standing water to drink, according to local CBS affiliate WDJT. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025

The child detailed her environment in a sketch of the basement, as published in the criminal complaint. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025

The basement is an open space that could be used as a bedroom or as a family room. —Angela Serratore, New York Times, 30 Apr. 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