cheap

Cheap is an adjective and adverb used to describe something that costs little relative to similar items, or the overall expense of an activity. In everyday use, cheap often refers to low price, but it can also imply lower quality, durability, or value. Etymology traces to Old English ceapian 'to buy' and to the sense of price or sale; by the medieval period cheap had come to describe affordability.

In economics, cheapness is a price signal driven by supply, demand, costs of production, and competition. Prices fall when competition increases, efficiency improves, or inputs become cheaper. Consumers benefit from cheaper options, yet low price can come with compromises in quality, service, or longevity. The distinction between cheap and inexpensive is nuanced: cheap emphasizes price and sometimes quality concerns, while inexpensive is a more neutral term for something affordable.

The phrase cheap labor refers to wages that are considered low relative to standards, often raising discussions about living conditions and labor rights. Cheap can also be used in evaluative phrases such as "cheap tricks" or "cheap but cheerful," which acknowledge low cost but a limited value proposition.

Culturally, perceptions of cheapness vary by region and context, and strategies to obtain cheap goods include generic brands, sales, bulk buying, or second-hand markets. Critics argue that relentless cheapness can drive waste, undermine quality, and externalize costs such as environmental impact or worker exploitation.