low-quality

American  

[loh-kwol-i-tee] / ˈloʊˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

adjective

1. substandard; of inferior quality: Repairs made with low-quality parts are cheaper, but they won’t last long.

   It’s hard to make a delicious dish when you start with low-quality ingredients.

   Repairs made with low-quality parts are cheaper, but they won’t last long.

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Etymology

Origin of low-quality

First recorded in 1815–20; low ¹ ( def. ) + quality ( def. )

Example Sentences

“He flouted the lawful authority of the FDA and deliberately deceived the public by repackaging low-quality, foreign-made test kits at a time when accuracy and reliability were critical,” Grant said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

There are other reforms worth testing: more open peer review, better data availability checks, and stronger triage to screen out low-quality submissions before they consume reviewer time.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

At the same time, they are entering markets where the perception of "Made in China" is often still associated with cheap, low-quality goods.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

In the grainy, low-quality frame, Pretti holds an object that in reality was a phone.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

On the second floor Mother found a row of offices that had once housed Confiserie Royale S.A.—or the Royal Candy Corporation—a grandiose name for a company that manufactured low-quality gummies and lollipops.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti