doorbuster

or door-bust·er

[ dawr-buhs-ter, dohr‐ ]

noun

1. Informal.
   1. a retail item that is heavily discounted for a very limited time in order to draw customers to the store.
   2. the price of such an item.
2. a device used to forcibly open a door.
3. a person who breaks into a place by force.

Word History and Origins

Origin of doorbuster¹

First recorded in 1890–1900; door ( def ) + buster ( def )

Example Sentences

Known for crowds lining up at big-box stores to pounce on doorbuster discounts during the early hours after American Thanksgiving, Black Friday normally marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.

From Reuters

Known for crowds lining up at big-box stores to pounce on doorbuster discounts during the early hours after American Thanksgiving, Black Friday normally marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.

From Reuters

A nearly 1,500-page doorbuster, the novel is loosely about a couple seeking help to translate Edgar Allan Poe into German.

From New York Times

The shopping day was once synonymous with doorbuster deals and long lines before dawn.

From Washington Post

“If you go into the physical store, oftentimes they have additional doorbuster sales because they’re trying to drive traffic,” she said, adding that after years of covid fears and crowd restrictions, shoppers want to be back in stores.

From Washington Post