vulgar

comparative more vulgar · comparative vulgarer · superlative most vulgar · superlative vulgarest · alternative vulgare

1. Debased; uncouth; distasteful; obscene.

   vulgar words

   5 more examples

   vulgar language

   a truly vulgar showing of affection

   vulgar and highly distressing scenes

   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

   Synonyms: inappropriate, debased, uncouth, offensive, ignoble, mean, profane, crass

2. derogatoryhistoricalHaving to do with ordinary, common people.

   Near-synonyms: vulgate; vulgarized

   3 more examples

   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

   Further, the same sacred name in other monuments precedes the vulgar name of King Takellothis, the sixth of the XXII. Dyn., as we have seen.

   1860, G. Syffarth, “A Remarkable Seal in Dr. Abbott's Museum at New York”, in Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, page 265

   Synonyms: common, popular, plebeian, vulgate, vulgarized

3. especiallybiologyCommon, usual; of the typical kind.

   vulgar bush brown (Bicyclus vulgaris)

   1 more example

   A vulture (V. aura), probably the Acabiry first described by Azara, is here called […] the hunter. It resembles in form the vulgar bird, but it flies high. The head is red, and the wings are black with silver lining, like the noble Bateleur of Africa.

   1869, Richard Francis Burton, The Highlands of the Brazil, page 85

   Synonyms: customary, ordinary, typical, average, medial, basic, bog-standard, common

4. mathematicsBeing a vulgar fraction.

   A fraction is vulgar if it has one integer divided by another integer, as long as the integer that's doing the dividing isn't equal to zero.

   2022, Mary Jane Sterling, Algebra II All-in-One For Dummies, page 282

plural vulgars · alternative vulgare

1. derogatoryhistoricalA common, ordinary person.

   Popular antiquarian writings […] frequently focused on the regional vulgars' superstitious beliefs regarding the dead and their ongoing presence—such as popular funeral rites or the vulgars' fear of church yards.

   2016, Evan Gottlieb, Juliet Shields, Representing Place in British Literature and Culture, 1660-1830

2. collectiveThe common people.
3. The language of a people, especially the commoners.

   Therefore you Clowne, abandon: which is in the vulgar, leaue the societie: which in the boorish, is companie, of this female: which in the common, is woman: which together, is, abandon the society of this Female, […]

   1623, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies; Published according to the True Originall Copies, London, act 5, scene 1, page 204, Internet Shakespeare Editions

   Synonyms: vulgate, vernacular