plebeian

¹ple·be·ian

noun \pli-ˈbē-ən\

Definition of PLEBEIAN

1

: a member of the Roman plebs

2

: one of the common people

— ple·be·ian·ism \-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

Origin of PLEBEIAN

Latin plebeius of the common people, from plebs common people

First Known Use: 1533

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

Rhymes with PLEBEIAN

Achaean, Actaeon, Aegean, Antaean, Archean, Augean, Chaldean, Chilean, Crimean, Cumaean, Fijian, Judaean, Korean, Kuchean, Linnaean, Mandaean, Matthean, Nicaean, pygmaean, Tupian

²plebeian

adjective

Definition of PLEBEIAN

1

: of or relating to plebeians

2

: crude or coarse in manner or style : common

— ple·be·ian·ly adverb

Examples of PLEBEIAN

1. <wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins>

First Known Use of PLEBEIAN

1566

Related to PLEBEIAN

Synonyms

baseborn, common, humble, inferior, low, lowborn, lower-class, low-life, lowly, lumpen, mean, ignoble, prole, proletarian, unwashed, vulgar

Antonyms

aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, high, highborn, highbred, lofty, noble, partrician, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn

Related Words

bourgeois, middle-class; plain, poor, simple, working-class; déclassé, down-market, downscale

Near Antonyms

eminent, illustrious, notable, prominent

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

plebeian

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

(Latin, plebs) Member of the general citizenry, as opposed to the patrician class, in the ancient Roman republic. Plebeians were originally excluded from the Senate and from all public offices except military tribune, and they were forbidden to marry patricians. Seeking to acquire equal rights, they carried on a campaign called Conflict of the Orders, developing a separate political organization and seceding in protest from the state at least five times. The campaign ceased when a plebeian dictator (appointed 287 BC) made measures passed in the plebeian assembly binding on the whole community.