Definition Definition

vulgar - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'vulgar' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Vulgar [ a.]
- Of or pertaining to the mass, or multitude, of people; common; general; ordinary; public; hence, in general use; vernacular.
- Belonging or relating to the common people, as distinguished from the cultivated or educated; pertaining to common life; plebeian; not select or distinguished; hence, sometimes, of little or no value.
- Hence, lacking cultivation or refinement; rustic; boorish; also, offensive to good taste or refined feelings; low; coarse; mean; base; as, vulgar men, minds, language, or manners.
2 . Vulgar [ n.]
- One of the common people; a vulgar person.
- The vernacular, or common language.

Meaning of 'vulgar' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . vulgar [ s]
Meaning (1):
- conspicuously and tastelessly indecent
Example in sentence:
  • a crude joke;
  • a revoltingly gross expletive;
  • a vulgar gesture;
  • an earthy sense of humor;
  • coarse language;
  • crude behavior;
  • full of language so vulgar it should have been edited
Meaning (2):
- being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
Example in sentence:
  • a vernacular term;
  • common parlance;
  • the technical and vulgar names for an animal species;
  • the vulgar tongue of the masses;
  • vernacular speakers
Meaning (3):
- of or associated with the great masses of people
Example in sentence:
  • a vulgar and objectionable person;
  • behavior that branded him as common;
  • his square plebeian nose;
  • the common people in those days suffered greatly;
  • the unwashed masses
Meaning (4):
- lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
Example in sentence:
  • an uncouth soldier--a real tough guy;
  • an untutored and uncouth human being;
  • appealing to the vulgar taste for violence;
  • behavior that branded him as common;
  • he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind;
  • the vulgar display of the newly rich