cheapie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “cheapie” mean?
An inexpensive product.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An inexpensive product; something of low cost and often low quality.
Can refer to a person who is excessively frugal or stingy (informal).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties with essentially the same meaning. Slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Both carry the same core connotation of low cost. In both, it can be neutral or slightly dismissive.
Frequency
More frequent in spoken, informal American English.
Grammar
How to Use “cheapie” in a Sentence
It's a [cheapie].I got a [cheapie] for the trip.Don't be such a [cheapie].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheapie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This isn't the time to cheapie out on materials.
American English
- He always tries to cheapie out when we order pizza.
adverb
British English
- They furnished the flat cheapie, using mostly second-hand stuff.
American English
- We decorated the office cheapie for the party.
adjective
British English
- I bought a cheapie phone case from the market.
American English
- We stayed in a cheapie motel off the highway.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; informal discussions about low-cost alternatives.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation about shopping, travel, or purchases.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheapie”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Capitalizing it as a proper noun.
- Using 'cheapie' for abstract concepts (e.g., 'a cheapie idea').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a noun, but is also frequently used attributively as an adjective (e.g., a cheapie phone).
It is context-dependent. It can be neutral/playful ('Let's get a cheapie') or slightly pejorative ('It's just a cheapie knock-off').
They are near synonyms, but 'cheapo' can sound slightly more dismissive or negative than the more playful 'cheapie'.
Yes, informally, to mean a person who is very stingy or frugal (e.g., 'Don't be such a cheapie!').
An inexpensive product.
Cheapie is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Cheapie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiːpi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃipi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; related to idioms with 'cheap'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'cheap' + the friendly, informal suffix '-ie' (like 'sweetie'). A 'cheapie' is the cute/nickname version of something cheap.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW COST IS SHALLOW / LOW COST IS LOW QUALITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'cheapie' used correctly?