Cheapos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An informal term used to describe inexpensive or low-quality items that are often seen as lacking in value or durability
2. A colloquial expression referring to products or goods that are cheaply made and typically inexpensive, implying poor craftsmanship
3. A casual term denoting budget-friendly purchases that may sacrifice quality for a lower price, appealing to cost-conscious consumers

Etymology: "Cheapos" is simply the plural of "cheapo," and the history is plain: it is "cheap" with the colloquial suffix "-o" tacked on. That suffix, which lends a casual, slightly jaunty tone, was used to form nicknames and informal labels for people or things with a particular characteristic, as in "cheapo" for something cheap or a cheap person. The root "cheap" goes back to Old English "ceap," meaning trade, bargain or market, and the older sense of a bargain still shows in phrases like "good cheap" and "cheapside," the old London market street. Over centuries the word narrowed from the idea of a price or deal to the idea of low cost, and later to the sense of inferior quality. The "-o" ending adds the cheerful, somewhat slangy flavour that makes "cheapos" sound like a shopping-bag label rather than a formal term.

Synonyms: cheap items, bargains, discounts, knockoffs, low-priced goods

Antonyms: expensives, luxuries, pricelies, premium items