Vulgar Meaning
/ˈvʌl.ɡə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjDebased; uncouth; distasteful; obscene.
adjHaving to do with ordinary, common people.
Sentence Examples
He's misunderstood because of his vulgar language.
She is extremely vulgar in her speech.
I am fed up with his vulgar jokes.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Due to the offensive language and crude gestures, the comedian's performance was considered ____ by the critics.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His ____ joke was not well-received by the audience, and several people left the room.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English vulgare, from Latin vulgāris, from volgus, vulgus (“mob; common folk”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH-. Compare Welsh gwala (“plenty, sufficiency”), Ancient Greek ἁλία (halía, “assembly”), εἰλέω (eiléō, “to compress”), Old Church Slavonic великъ (velikŭ, “great”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber."
— 1551, James A.H. Murray, editor, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society., volume 1, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1888, Part 1, page 217:
"And, placed discreetly among these commonplaces, a few pieces of genuine quality, bizarrely distinguished by craftsmanship from the vulgar products of the machine."
— 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 150:
"Several years ago I interviewed the CEO of a car manufacturer whose products start in the six figures. He told me his customers could always afford to buy his cars, but in recessions they found it vulgar to do so."
— 2023 May 28, Robert Armstrong, “The world wobbles; the luxury industry strides on”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 21:
"It might be more useful to the English reader […] to write in our vulgar language."
— 1661, John Fell, The Life of Dr. Hammond:
"The mechanical process of multiplying books had brought the New Testament in the vulgar tongue within the reach of every class."
— 1834–1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume (please specify |volume=I to X), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company [et al.], →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Due to the offensive language and crude gestures, the comedian's performance was considered ____ by the critics.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His ____ joke was not well-received by the audience, and several people left the room.