cheapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “cheapy” mean?
An item that is inexpensive and often of low quality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An item that is inexpensive and often of low quality.
Often used as an informal, slightly derogatory term to describe something that is both cheap in price and perceived as tacky, inferior, or poorly made.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'cheapy' is more common in informal AmE. In BrE, 'cheapie' and 'cheapo' are also found, though all are informal.
Connotations
Consistently pejorative in both varieties, suggesting something is not worth buying despite its low price.
Frequency
Rarely used in formal contexts in either variety. Slightly more common in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “cheapy” in a Sentence
[Det] + cheapy + Nbe + a bit cheapyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Rarely, if ever, used as an adverb]
American English
- [Rarely, if ever, used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- Don't buy those cheapy sunglasses from the market stall.
- The hotel felt a bit cheapy, but it was all we could afford.
American English
- He always gets me some cheapy gift from the drugstore.
- I'm tired of this cheapy furniture falling apart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Avoided. Use 'low-cost', 'economy', or 'value' instead.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used informally to express disappointment with a low-quality purchase. 'I bought a cheapy phone case and it broke in a week.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheapy”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with the neutral adjective 'cheap'.
- Overusing it as a synonym for 'affordable'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an informal, colloquial adjective used primarily in spoken English and informal writing.
'Cheap' is the standard, neutral adjective for low price. 'Cheapy' is informal and always implies that the low price correlates with low or disappointing quality.
Rarely, but it can be used informally to refer to a cheap item (e.g., 'I bought a few cheapies for the party bags'). It is more commonly an adjective.
It is dismissive and pejorative, but not typically considered highly offensive. It is more a term of mild contempt or disappointment towards an object, not usually towards a person.
An item that is inexpensive and often of low quality.
Cheapy is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Cheapy: 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
- “[no specific idioms for 'cheapy']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Cheapy' rhymes with 'creepy' — imagine a creepy, poorly-made doll you bought for very little money.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW QUALITY IS LOW (cheapy implies something is down-market, beneath consideration).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'cheapy' be MOST appropriate?