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

Fashion is coming out of the basement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. —Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025

Avoid basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Nov. 2025

Iran’s defense agency has similarly noted that most residents will continue to rely on metro stations, underground parking structures and basements during emergencies. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Its basement is attached to a pathway used during the Underground Railroad and Prohibition, according to owner Tommy Burelle, who brings 30 years of downtown bar experience to his restaurant. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 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