noun
lemon
A defective or unsatisfactory product, especially a vehicle.
My new car is a lemon that keeps needing expensive repairs.
Etymology
The sour fruit name became slang for something disappointing or unsatisfactory. In product use, the metaphor describes an item whose defects leave its owner with a bad purchase.
More examples
- This washing machine turned out to be a lemon.
- If your laptop is a lemon, ask for a replacement.
- A mechanic can help you avoid buying a lemon.
Forms
lemon · lemons
Similar words
- dud
- Dud emphasizes failure to work or meet basic expectations.
- clunker
- Clunker usually means an old, unreliable car or machine.