flea market

American  

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.

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flea market British  

noun

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

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flea market Idioms  

1. 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]

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Other Word Forms

• flea-marketeer noun
• flea-marketer noun

Etymology

Origin of flea market

First recorded in 1920–25

Compare meaning

How does flea-market compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• swap meet vs. flea market

Example Sentences

After shopping, I’ll drop off my vintage finds from the flea market and check in at Lone Fox Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

“I would always use thrifted finds and flea market things in my makeovers, and people would always ask me, ‘Can you sell what you’re using?’” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

“The hardest part of it is going to a flea market, secondhand stores, an estate sale or even just going behind a store to see what people throw away.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

She got hers from a flea market, but it has becoming ever easier to buy knockoff furniture and home goods online.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

Tea, Politics, and Scandal, the ingredients of an Afghan Sunday at the flea market.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini