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

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

From MarketWatch

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

Bargain basement batting from a group playing like millionaires.

From BBC

Chris Edwards, a businessman from Yorkshire, has spent more than 50 years working in retail's bargain basement.

From BBC

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

From BBC

Related Words

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