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thrift shop

(North America) A shop which sells mainly used goods (especially clothes) at low prices.

ˈθɹɪft ˈʃɑpCurrent162 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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5 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(North America) A shop which sells mainly used goods (especially clothes) at low prices.

Some thrift shops, glutted with flimsy, synthetic wares, have stopped accepting fast-fashion donations.
For parents

"thrift shop" means: A shop which sells mainly used goods (especially clothes) at low prices.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"thrift shop" means: A shop which sells mainly used goods (especially clothes) at low prices.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Heard in the wild
  • “I programmed my AI to self-desruct if i type in the first verse of Thrift Shop by Macklemore, as a joke.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “I typically look out for vintage plushies when I go to the thrift shop, but I certainly can't pass up a nearly mint 40 year old deck of Uno cards.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “It's so funny to me, how you can just randomly find Princess Diana beanie babies at the thrift shop. These things were $500 a pop in their heyday.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “24- what was your first game console? an Atari 2600 that my folks got from a thrift shop”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “What items do you think are a waste of money at charity shops, despite the price? Let's talk thrift shop finds! #CharityShopFinds https://www.essexlive.news/whats-on/shopping/items-you-should-never-buy-10950583”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"thrift shop" means: A shop which sells mainly used goods (especially clothes) at low prices.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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