adjective
no-frills
noh FRILZ
No-frills (adjective) means offering only the basic service or product, with extras stripped out to keep the price low. Example: “They flew a no-frills airline and paid extra for every bag.”
adjective
1
Offering only the basic service or product, with extras stripped out to keep the price low.
"They flew a no-frills airline and paid extra for every bag."
"It is a no-frills gym: weights, mats and nothing else."
How to use no-frills
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSimple and cheap, with none of the extras.
When to use it
Neutral, and often used approvingly to mean honest and unpretentious.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
no-frills airline
no-frills approach
no-frills service
no-frills package
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They flew a _____ airline and paid extra for every bag.
Etymology
From frill, a decorative ruffle on cloth, used figuratively from the nineteenth century for an unnecessary ornament or extra.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between no-frills and cheap?
Cheap suggests low quality or low price generally. No-frills says nothing about the quality of the core product, only that the extras have been removed to keep the price down.
Is no-frills hyphenated?
Yes, when it comes before a noun: a no-frills hotel. Written after the verb it can appear without the hyphen, as in 'the service is no frills'.
What is the meaning of no-frills?
"no-frills" (adjective) means offering only the basic service or product, with extras stripped out to keep the price low.
What is another word for no-frills?
Other words for "no-frills" include basic, stripped-down, bare-bones, budget, economy.
