What does cheapen mean?
Cheapen is a verb meaning to make something less valuable, less admirable, or of poorer quality. It operates on both material and abstract levels: mass production may cheapen a product, while careless imitation can cheapen an artist's reputation. The word also takes on a moral dimension when used reflexively — to cheapen oneself is to compromise one's integrity or dignity, as when someone flatters insincerely for personal gain. Because it implies a decline from a former state of worth, cheapen carries an inherently negative connotation and appears frequently in cultural criticism, marketing commentary, and ethical discussion. Its flexibility across physical, aesthetic, and moral registers makes it a precise and expressive choice whenever the idea is degradation of value rather than mere reduction in price.
To make something seem or become less valuable or of lower quality.
"Plastic trim cheapens the look of an otherwise well-made car."
Often used figuratively of reputations, art, or experiences, not only of physical goods.
To cause a person, especially oneself, to lose dignity or moral worth.
"He felt he would cheapen himself by accepting the bribe."
Usually reflexive; carries a distinctly ethical, disapproving tone.
The word 'cheap' itself comes from an Old English word meaning simply 'trade' or 'price' — so to cheapen something originally meant to haggle it downward, and London's famous Cheapside was once the city's bustling market street.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cheapen
Cheapen was formed in English by adding the verb-forming suffix '-en' to 'cheap', with the sense 'to reduce in price' attested from around the early 17th century and the broader figurative senses developing later. The adjective 'cheap' itself descends from Old English 'cēap', meaning trade, purchase, or price, which Germanic speakers borrowed from Latin 'caupō', meaning a small trader or innkeeper. This same root gives us 'chapman', an old word for a pedlar or merchant, and survives in the name Cheapside, the site of London's medieval marketplace.
Related word forms
How cheapen is actually used
Common in formal and journalistic writing, often in discussions of branding, art, and public discourse. When applied reflexively ('cheapen oneself'), it carries a strongly negative moral connotation about dignity rather than money.
Easily confused with cheapen
Cheap is an adjective describing low cost or poor quality, while cheapen is the verb describing the act of making something cheaper, lesser, or less respectable.