bargain basement

¹

noun

1. a basement area in some stores where goods are sold at prices lower than usual.

bargain-basement

²

[ bahr-guhn-beys-muhnt ]

adjective

1. very low-priced.
2. noticeably lacking in quality; inferior.

bargain basement

noun

1. part of a shop where goods are sold at reduced prices

Word History and Origins

Origin of bargain basement¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Origin of bargain basement²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Those bargain basement deals are squeezing profit margins, though the company remains profitable and still sells more EVs than other automakers.

From Los Angeles Times

The Biden administration on Friday made it more expensive for fossil fuel companies to pull oil, gas and coal from public lands, raising royalty rates for the first time in 100 years in a bid to end bargain basement fees enjoyed by one of the country’s most profitable industries.

From New York Times

Well, so far the Democrats and Joe Biden have been called “bargain basement” in their strategy in various media posts, or “alarmingly calm” and completely confident they have 2024 well in hand.

From Salon

The scale of Everton's financial mismanagement over recent years means they are scraping around in the bargain basement.

From BBC

He hasn’t had much luck shopping in this store, although sometimes he was looking in the bargain basement.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• competitive
• economical
• low-cost
• low-priced
• reasonable