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

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 notes

In plain EnglishSimple and cheap, with none of the extras.

When to use it

Neutral, and often used approvingly to mean honest and unpretentious.

Memory tip

It almost always sits directly in front of a noun.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

low-cost budget → bargain-basement

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.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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basic stripped-down bare-bones budget economy

Antonyms

luxury premium full-service deluxe

Related Words

bad easy common simple choice paid normal rule

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'.

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