flea market

noun

1. a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-rate merchandise, etc.

flea market

noun

1. an open-air market selling cheap and often second-hand goods

Other Word Forms

• flea-marketer noun
• flea-marketeer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flea market¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Idioms and Phrases

A market, usually held outdoors, where used goods and antiques are sold. For example, We picked up half of our furniture at flea markets. The term is a direct translation of the French marché aux puces and presumably implies that some of the used clothes and furniture might be flea-infested. [1920s]

Example Sentences

“This is a dining hall, not a flea market,” she snapped.

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Shop for vintage goods at local flea markets A perfect Sunday usually starts with going to one of the flea markets — either the Pasadena City College Flea Market or the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

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I always look for jewelry that I could repurpose from flea markets, from the swap meets.

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Whether she chooses to stay in Franklin Hills for the rest of her life or packs up everything tomorrow, she’ll always keep an eye out for hidden gems — just like at the flea market.

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When I offload a bunch of stuff rather than sell it, I feel like I will be lucky at the flea market.

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