vulgar

[ vuhl-ger ]

adjective

1. characterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste:

   vulgar ostentation.

   Synonyms: ribald, coarse, low, inelegant, unrefined

2. indecent; obscene; lewd:

   a vulgar work; a vulgar gesture.

3. crude; coarse; unrefined:

   a vulgar peasant.

   Synonyms: rude, boorish

4. of, relating to, or constituting the ordinary people in a society:

   the vulgar masses.

5. current; popular; common:

   a vulgar success; vulgar beliefs.

6. spoken by, or being in the language spoken by, the people generally; vernacular:

   vulgar tongue.

   Synonyms: colloquial

7. lacking in distinction, aesthetic value, or charm; banal; ordinary:

   a vulgar painting.

noun

1. Archaic. the common people.
2. Obsolete. the vernacular.

vulgar

/ ˈvʌlɡə /

adjective

1. marked by lack of taste, culture, delicacy, manners, etc

   vulgar language

   vulgar behaviour

2. often capital; usually prenominal denoting a form of a language, esp of Latin, current among common people, esp at a period when the formal language is archaic and not in general spoken use
3. archaic.
   1. of, relating to, or current among the great mass of common people, in contrast to the educated, cultured, or privileged; ordinary
   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the vulgar

Usage Note

Terms that are labeled Vulgar in this dictionary are considered inappropriate in many circumstances because of their association with a taboo subject. Major taboo subjects in English-speaking countries are sex and excretion and the parts of the body associated with those functions.

Derived Forms

• ˈvulgarly, adverb

Other Words From

• vulgar·ly adverb
• vulgar·ness noun
• un·vulgar adjective
• un·vulgar·ly adverb
• un·vulgar·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulgar¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin vulgāris, from vulg(us) “common people, crowd” + -āris -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulgar¹

C14: from Latin vulgāris belonging to the multitude, from vulgus the common people

Synonym Study

See common.

Example Sentences

Though embodying a rather sweet message about finding community and healing the scars of high school, “Sweethearts” is more often vulgar than funny.

From New York Times

If the majority of my country is fine with an America-attacking vulgar racist, whose only true talent is the ability to somehow always go lower, I find it terribly sad and wildly dangerous.

From Salon

“I’m here to complain about the teacher that had the vulgar political language,” said Oscar Avila.

From Los Angeles Times

Married to Stanley, a man of carnal appetites and vulgar manners, Stella has embraced the crude pleasures of realism, while her freeloading sister still clings to tattered aristocratic illusions.

From Los Angeles Times

“And she confirmed it with a very vulgar and crude “F—the police.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boorish
• coarse
• crude
• disgusting
• filthy
• impolite
• indecent
• nasty
• naughty
• obscene
• off-color
• profane
• ribald
• scatological
• suggestive
• tasteless
• tawdry