ten-cent store: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (historical term)Historical, dated informal
Quick answer
What does “ten-cent store” mean?
A store that sells inexpensive items, originally where most items cost around ten cents.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A store that sells inexpensive items, originally where most items cost around ten cents.
A retail establishment selling a variety of low-cost goods, often including household items, toys, candy, and stationery; historically a precursor to modern variety stores and dollar stores.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term was used historically in both varieties. 'Dime store' is the more prevalent American synonym, while in British English 'Woolworths' (a specific chain) often became a genericized term for this type of store.
Connotations
Nostalgic, old-fashioned, quaint. In both varieties, it connotes a bygone era of shopping.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary use in both British and American English, largely replaced by 'variety store', 'discount store', or 'dollar store' (US)/'pound shop' (UK).
Grammar
How to Use “ten-cent store” in a Sentence
shop at the [ten-cent store]buy [something] from a [ten-cent store]the [ten-cent store] on [street name]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ten-cent store” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It had a ten-cent store charm about it.
American English
- He bought a ten-cent-store toy for his nephew.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used historically in retail business contexts to describe a low-margin, high-volume sales model.
Academic
Appears in historical, economic, or sociological texts discussing the evolution of retail and consumer culture.
Everyday
Used by older generations recalling childhood shopping experiences; otherwise rare.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ten-cent store”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ten-cent store”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ten-cent store”
- Using 'ten-cents store' (plural 'cents'). The correct form is 'ten-cent' as a compound adjective.
- Using it to describe modern dollar stores without historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical term. You might hear it in stories from older people or in historical writing, but modern equivalents are 'dollar store' (US), 'pound shop' (UK), or 'variety store'.
They are synonyms. 'Dime store' is the more common term in American English, with 'dime' being the US coin for ten cents. 'Ten-cent store' was also used and might sound slightly more formal or descriptive.
They declined due to inflation (making the ten-cent price point unsustainable), competition from larger discount department stores and supermarkets, and changing consumer habits.
It would sound odd and anachronistic. Using 'dollar store', 'discount store', or 'cheap shop' would be more accurate for a contemporary context.
A store that sells inexpensive items, originally where most items cost around ten cents.
Ten-cent store is usually historical, dated informal in register.
Ten-cent store: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɛn ˈsɛnt stɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɛn ˈsɛnt stɔr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not] a ten-cent store operation (implying something is not cheap or shoddy)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TEN CENTS buying a TOY in a STORE from a century ago.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFORDABLE RETAIL IS A LOW-VALUE COIN (the store is defined by the smallest unit of currency).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most direct modern equivalent of a 'ten-cent store' in American English?