adj
vulgar
VUHL-guh
adj
1
Crude, tasteless, or offensive, especially in speech or behaviour.
"His vulgar jokes made half the room uncomfortable."
"The tabloid was criticised for its vulgar headlines."
2
Relating to ordinary people rather than the elite or educated classes; common or unrefined.
"The professor traced how Latin evolved into the vulgar tongues of medieval Europe."
How to Use Vulgar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCrude or tasteless — or, in an older sense, simply "of ordinary people" rather than refined or elite.
Common mistake
The everyday meaning (crude, offensive) is now far more common than the older "of common people" sense — don't assume the historical meaning in modern writing.
Common pairings
vulgar language
vulgar joke
vulgar display
Word Forms
more vulgar comparative, vulgarer comparative, vulgars plural, most vulgar superlative, vulgarest superlative
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Etymology
From Latin vulgaris, "of the common people," from vulgus, "the crowd, the masses."