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

To prevent hantavirus, Marcos recommends wearing gloves and a mask in environments where mice might be present, such as cleaning a basement. —Melissa Rudy , Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026

The basement spa is a favorite among discerning locals, especially its facials. —Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 7 May 2026

The move represents years of advocacy on behalf of Anna Wintour to elevate the profile of the Costume Institute, which had been relegated to the museum's basement. —Dalila Muata, NBC news, 5 May 2026

The remodeled kitchen has bamboo floors and stainless appliances, and a finished basement offers a separate entrance and a kitchenette. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 4 May 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