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 Words From

• flea-market·er flea-mar·ket·eer 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

All these efforts helped launch Tanton’s words and arguments into the flea market of American ideas.

From Salon

Antique malls, consignment stores, flea markets, thrift stores and vintage shops: L.A. has it all when it comes to shopping for secondhand furniture.

From Los Angeles Times

The program’s design also drew on surveys of more than 10,000 farmworkers, conducted by grassroots organizations at tax preparation events, food distribution sites and flea markets.

From Los Angeles Times

Her @1042flea account boasts more than 37,000 followers, using bright and bold color palettes to grab attention, and at some flea markets, she hosts nearly 100 vendors.

From Los Angeles Times

Thick Thrift is a flea market catering to sizes XL and over.

From Los Angeles Times