cheap
CHEEP
Cheap (adj) means costing little money. Example: “We found a cheap flight to Lisbon for under fifty pounds.”
adj
1
Costing little money.
"We found a cheap flight to Lisbon for under fifty pounds."
"The market sells cheap fruit and vegetables every Saturday."
"Second-hand books are cheap at the charity shop on the corner."
2
Of poor quality, as if made to save money rather than to last.
"The umbrella broke on its first use — clearly a cheap one."
"His suit looked cheap despite the designer label."
"The cheap plastic handle snapped off after only a week of use."
3
Unwilling to spend money; stingy.
"Don't be so cheap — just tip the waiter properly."
"My uncle is so cheap that he reuses teabags until they turn clear."
"She called him cheap for splitting the bill down to the last penny."
4
Achieved through unfair or underhanded means.
"That was a cheap shot, bringing up his divorce in the meeting."
"Mocking her accent was a cheap trick to win the argument."
"I thought it was cheap of him to take credit for our work."
How to use cheap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLow in price — and, often, low in quality or generosity to match.
Common mistake
"Cheap" describes the price or quality of a thing; "stingy" or "tight" better describes a person's unwillingness to spend, though "cheap" is used informally for people too.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
cheap flight
cheap shot
dirt cheap
cheap and cheerful
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Word forms
- Plural
- cheaps
- Third person singular
- cheaps
- Past tense
- cheaped
- Comparative
- cheaper, more cheap
- Superlative
- cheapest, most cheap
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We found a _____ flight to Lisbon for under fifty pounds.
Etymology
From Old English cēap, meaning "trade" or "market price." The adjective sense grew out of the old phrase "good cheap," meaning "a good bargain" — over time "cheap" alone came to mean low-priced.
Synonyms
View more →
affordable
cut-price
bargainous
brand X
budget
cheapie
cheapo
cheesy
competitive
economical
economic
el cheapo
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cheap
See all rhymes for cheap →Frequently asked questions
What does “cheap” mean?
The word “cheap” means costing little money. In plain terms, low in price — and, often, low in quality or generosity to match.
How do you pronounce “cheap”?
“Cheap” is pronounced CHEEP (/ˈt͡ʃiːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “cheap” in a sentence?
Here is “cheap” used in a sentence: “We found a cheap flight to Lisbon for under fifty pounds.”
What is another word for “cheap”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cheap” include bargainous, brand X, budget, cheapie, cheapo and cheesy.
What is the opposite of “cheap”?
The opposite of “cheap” — its antonyms — are expensive and affordable.
What part of speech is “cheap”?
“Cheap” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cheap” come from?
The word “cheap” comes from Old English. From Old English cēap, meaning "trade" or "market price." The adjective sense grew out of the old phrase "good cheap," meaning "a good bargain" — over time "cheap" alone came to mean low-priced.
Is “cheap” a common word?
“Cheap” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between cheap and inexpensive?
Both mean low in price, but the tone differs. Inexpensive is neutral and simply notes that something costs little. Cheap can carry the same meaning, yet it often hints at poor quality or being of little worth. To praise a low price without implying inferior goods, 'inexpensive' or 'affordable' is safer.
Is cheap a negative word?
It can be. Describing a price as cheap is neutral or positive, but calling an object cheap often suggests it is flimsy or badly made. Applied to a person, cheap means stingy or unwilling to spend, which is clearly critical. Context decides whether it is a compliment or an insult.
What is the opposite of cheap?
The main opposites are expensive, costly, and dear, all meaning high in price. When cheap implies poor quality, its opposites shift to well-made, premium, or high-quality. And when it describes a stingy person, the opposite is generous. The right antonym depends on which sense of cheap you mean.
Can 'cheap' describe a person?
Yes. Applied to someone's character, cheap means reluctant to spend money — stingy, tight-fisted, or miserly. It is an informal criticism, as in 'he's too cheap to buy a round.' This differs from the price sense; here it judges an attitude toward money rather than the cost of a thing.
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