vulgar

adjective

vul·​gar ˈvəl-gər How to pronounce vulgar (audio)
Synonyms of vulgarnext
1
a
: lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : coarse
b
: morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate : gross
c
: ostentatious or excessive in expenditure or display : pretentious
2
a
: offensive in language : earthy
b
: lewdly or profanely indecent
3
a
: generally used, applied, or accepted
b
: understood in or having the ordinary sense
they reject the vulgar conception of miracle—W. R. Inge
4
: vernacular
the vulgar name of a plant
5
a
: of or relating to the common people : plebeian
b
: generally current : public
the vulgar opinion of that time
c
: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
vulgarly adverb

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for vulgar

common, ordinary, plain, familiar, popular, vulgar mean generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual.

common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence

a common error
lacked common honesty

and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

common manners

ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

coarse, vulgar, gross, obscene, ribald mean offensive to good taste or morals.

coarse implies roughness, rudeness, or crudeness of spirit, behavior, or language.

found the coarse humor of coworkers offensive

vulgar often implies boorishness or ill-breeding.

a loud vulgar belch

gross implies extreme coarseness and insensitiveness.

gross eating habits

obscene applies to anything strongly repulsive to the sense of decency and propriety especially in sexual matters.

obscene language not allowed on the air

ribald applies to what is amusingly or picturesquely vulgar or irreverent or mildly indecent.

entertained the campers with ribald folk songs

Examples of vulgar in a Sentence

He was a vulgar man. She had a coarse, vulgar laugh. I will not tolerate such vulgar language in my home.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The vast majority of females in the book are described with vulgar disrespect by the various characters and the narrator. —Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025 There is no excuse and no rationalization for a vulgar, inhumane act that senselessly took a life. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 One anonymous parent told Fox News Digital about witnessing a child being bombarded with vulgar insults by pro-trans protesters after the meeting. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2024 In the nineteen-thirties, Gypsy Rose Lee, perhaps the world’s most famous stripper, helped transform burlesque from a vulgar pastime to café-society entertainment, simply by acting refined. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vulgar 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin vulgaris of the mob, vulgar, from volgus, vulgus mob, common people

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vulgar was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing vulgar

Dictionary Entries Near vulgar

vulcanology

vulgar

vulgare

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulgar. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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Kids Definition

vulgar

adjective
vul·​gar ˈvəl-gər How to pronounce vulgar (audio)
1
: generally used, applied, or accepted
2
: of or relating to common speech : vernacular entry 1
the vulgar name of a plant
3
: of or relating to the common people
the vulgar opinion of the time
4
a
: lacking in good manners or taste : coarse
a loud vulgar belch
b
: morally crude
c
: tastelessly showy : pretentious
5
: offensive in language : obscene
a vulgar joke
vulgarly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on vulgar

Nglish: Translation of vulgar for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of vulgar for Arabic Speakers

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