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cheap
/tʃiːp/
low in price
The store sells cheap electronics.
The store offers electronics at low prices.
general
Costing little money; inexpensive
She bought a cheap dress for the party.
She purchased an inexpensive dress for the event.
Cheap flights are available during off-season.
Inexpensive airfare is offered outside peak travel times.
Often used to describe products or services that are affordable but may imply lower quality.
informal
Stingy or unwilling to spend money
He's too cheap to buy a decent gift.
He is unwilling to spend money on a good present.
In this sense, 'cheap' describes a person's behavior rather than an object's price.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The word 'cheap' can describe both objects and people, but its meaning changes based on context.
Gold Rule
Avoid Negative Connotations
When describing products, use 'affordable' or 'budget-friendly' to avoid implying low quality.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'chepe', from Old English 'ċēap', meaning 'bargain, price, value'. Related to Old Norse 'kaupa' (to buy) and German 'kaufen' (to buy).
Usage Notes
While 'cheap' generally means low in price, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation when referring to quality or a person's stinginess.
Word Breakdown
cheap
low in price
rootEnglish Dictionary