Vulgars

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Characterized by a lack of refinement or good taste, often exhibiting crudeness or a coarseness in language or demeanor; referring to those who express themselves in a manner typical of the lower social classes; denoting elements that are offensive or inappropriate in nature
2. Representing a style or expression that is considered unrefined or lacking sophistication, typically associated with rudeness or simplicity; referring to individuals who may behave in a manner deemed uncouth or unpolished; indicating features or expressions that may be regarded as vulgar or suggestive
3. Describing something that lacks elegance or high culture, commonly perceived as coarse or offensive in nature; relating to people who communicate in a manner that reflects common or base thinking; applying to traits or characteristics deemed inappropriate or disrespectful

Etymology: "Vulgars" is the plural of "vulgar", used as a noun for people lacking refinement. The singular form has been around since Middle English, borrowed from Latin "vulgaris", which meant "common" or "of the people", and that Latin term derives from "volgus" or "vulgus", meaning "mob" or "common folk". The Latin root goes back to a prehistoric ancestor shared with words across several languages, though the word's real English story begins with ordinary people, not with any refined or elevated sense. The shift from "belonging to the crowd" to "coarse" happened gradually. Because the common people were often seen as lacking the polish of the educated classes, "vulgar" came to mean crude, unrefined, or tasteless, and the noun plural now names those same people through that judgment. The original sense of the root survives in the word "vulgate", the name given to Saint Jerome's Latin translation of the Bible, which was the version made for the common reading public.

Synonyms: commoners, plebeians

Antonyms: elites, aristocrats