low-cost
/ˌləʊ ˈkɒst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌləʊ ˈkɔːst/ (ame, ipa)
low-cost — adjective
1. describes a product, service, or option whose price is not high, usually because
describes a product, service, or option whose price is not high, usually because it is set below the average or expected price.
The Watanabe family booked a low-cost flight to Osaka for the spring holiday.
collocation: low-cost flight
Dr. Okonkwo opened a low-cost clinic in a rural village to help poor patients.
attributive: low-cost + noun for a service
Many students choose low-cost housing near campus so they can save on rent.
The city launched a low-cost meal programme for senior citizens on a fixed income.
This low-cost smartphone has all the basic features a beginner needs.
- cheap
more general and more common, but can suggest low quality
- inexpensive
neutral in tone; does not imply poor quality
- affordable
focuses on being within someone's budget rather than just being low-priced
- budget
used before a noun to describe the cheapest version of something (budget hotel, budget airline)
- economical
emphasises good value and saving money over time rather than just a low price
- expensive
costing a lot of money
- costly
more formal, also can mean causing loss or difficulty
- high-priced
direct opposite in terms of price level
文法句型
low-cost + noun (flight / housing / option / service / carrier)
be + low-cost
用法筆記
Unlike cheap, which often suggests poor quality, low-cost is neutral or positive, focusing only on the price being below the usual level. It is very common in business and travel contexts.