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• bargain basement
  bargain basement

  noun

  a basement area in some stores where goods are sold at prices lower than usual.
• bargain-basement
  bargain-basement

  adjective

  very low-priced.

bargain basement

¹ American  

noun

1. a basement area in some stores where goods are sold at prices lower than usual.

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bargain-basement ² American  

[bahr-guhn-beys-muhnt] / ˈbɑr gənˌbeɪs mənt /

adjective

1. very low-priced.

2. noticeably lacking in quality; inferior.

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bargain basement British  

noun

1. part of a shop where goods are sold at reduced prices

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Etymology

Origin of bargain basement¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Origin of bargain-basement²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bargain basement bargain-basement

The business model that once made it an industry maverick—bringing its brand of bargain basement fares coupled with fees for pretty much everything—faced pressure from more intense competition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

You got on the property ladder at a bargain basement price, and doubled down on that cost effectiveness by building a house.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 10, 2026

He also looks for managers who deliver higher returns on equity rather than shopping in the bargain basement for the biggest discounts.

From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026

Keeper Sels also falls into the bargain basement category, costing only £5m from Strasbourg in February this year.

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2025

When Mama took us to the bargain basement sales in the Loveman’s and Pizitz department stores, we never asked why we couldn’t try on clothes.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

In this case, given how much your home has appreciated over the years, I don’t recommend selling this to your daughter at a bargain-basement price.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 22, 2025

The online retailer Shein, popular among Americans for its bargain-basement fashion, looked at a U.S. listing before facing criticism from U.S. lawmakers over its supply chain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025

Struggling California vineyards are having to compete with bargain-basement wine prices from overseas growers, due to global oversupply.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2024

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal ran down a list of recent, bargain-basement office sales.

From Slate ● May 26, 2023

So who's coming in on the bargain-basement floor?

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, September 22, 1920 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Related Words

• competitive
• economical
• low-cost
• low-priced
• reasonable