cheaper; cheapest
1
a
: not costing a lot of money
I always buy the cheapest brand of cereal.
a place where you can get a cheap [=inexpensive] meal
Rent isn't cheap here.
cheap imported goods
b
: of low quality : not worth a lot of money
curtains made of cheap material
He wears a cheap watch that's always breaking.
cheap perfume
2
: charging low prices
This gas station is cheaper than the one by the highway.
We ate at a cheap [=inexpensive] restaurant.
3
: not willing to share or spend money
He was too cheap [=stingy] to pay for the dinner.
Don't be cheap—buy good quality tires for your car.
—often + withMy uncle is cheap with his money.
4
: not hard to do or get
It was a cheap [=easy] victory over a lousy team.
He likes to harass the neighbor's dog as a cheap thrill. [=a minor thing done for entertainment]
5
: having little or no self-respect : ashamed of being used, abused, etc., by other people
He felt cheap letting other people treat him like that.
: at a low cost
They were able to build a house cheap. [=cheaply]
The film was made cheap.
: for a low price
The house sold cheap.
Cite this Entry
“Cheap.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cheap. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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