doorbuster

American  

[dawr-buhs-ter, dohr‐] / ˈdɔrˌbʌs tər, ˈdoʊr‐ /

Or door-buster

noun

1. Informal.

   1. a retail item that is heavily discounted for a very limited time in order to draw customers to the store.

   2. the price of such an item.

2. a device used to forcibly open a door.

3. a person who breaks into a place by force.

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Etymology

Origin of doorbuster

First recorded in 1890–1900; door ( def. ) + buster ( def. )

Explanation

Sometimes you'll find a long line of people waiting for a store to open so they can take advantage of a doorbuster, a popular product being offered at a very low price. Doorbusters are an easy way to bring in customers. A doorbuster gets its name from the fact that it causes a rush of customers, seemingly enough to break down the door! That's because the sale price usually applies only to a limited number of customers, such as the first 100. It may be a discount that lasts for just a few hours, so people are anxious to get in as quickly as possible, or there may be a very limited stock of the deeply discounted items. Depending on how attractive the sale item is, there could be a stampede. So if you're ever in such a lineup, be careful when the door opens!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

doorbuster

Known for crowds lining up at big-box stores to pounce on doorbuster discounts during the early hours after American Thanksgiving, Black Friday normally marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.

From Reuters ● Nov. 21, 2023

Macy’s did not bring back the opening doorbuster deals — which went away during the pandemic amid social distancing guidelines — and instead offered sales throughout the day.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2022

The shopping day was once synonymous with doorbuster deals and long lines before dawn.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 25, 2022

In recent years, retail stores have opened as early at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for doorbuster deals on televisions and Instant Pots and AirPods.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2021

The nation’s largest retailer said Wednesday that more of its doorbuster deals will be reserved for online, as a way to steer more shoppers away from its stores.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2020