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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-bays-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

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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

One veteran value fund manager thinks so, but he’s quick to point out that value doesn’t have to mean unloved stocks that are trading at bargain basement prices.

From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 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

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

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2025

With my messy ponytails and dress from the bargain basement, I feel like the fairy tale’s ragged girl with the basket of onions when I’m around Miss Mademoiselle Danielle.

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar

In reaching out to disgraced or out-of-fashion actors, the company is getting notable names for their bargain-basement productions.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026

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

After Disney+ launched in 2019 at a bargain-basement price, the company put its efforts into producing dozens of shows specifically for the streamer, in an attempt to build subscriber interest and loyalty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2024

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

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

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Related Words

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

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