plebeian

1 of 3

noun (1)

ple·​be·​ian pli-ˈbē-ən 

1

: a member of the Roman plebs

2

: one of the common people

plebeianism

pli-ˈbē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

plebeian

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of or relating to plebeians

2

: crude or coarse in manner or style : common

plebeianly adverb

plebeianism

3 of 3

noun (2)

ple·​be·​ian·​ism

variants or less commonly plebianism

-əˌnizəm

plural -s

: plebeian character, manners, or style : crudeness, vulgarity

a Greek philosopher in the midst of foreign plebeianism

—Irish Statesman

scorns no business for its plebeianism

—Thomas Carlyle

Synonyms of plebeian

Adjective

• low
• proletarian
• lower-class
• humble
• ignoble
• lowly
• vulgar
• unwashed
• lumpen
• inferior
• common
• low-life
• poor
• lowborn
• bourgeois

Examples of plebeian in a Sentence

Adjective

wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the latter years of the Roman Republic, landowners amassed unprecedented riches while plebeians floundered, spawning resentment that infected many corners of society. —Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026

How could the bookseller trust two random plebeians off the street? —Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025

Adjective

This one is about a regular old guy, a hedge knight in the plebeian population of Westeros, just trying to get by in a world that isn't kind to the common and poor. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026

Below that sits the pedestrian CLK 500 and plebeian CLK 350. —Jeremy Korzeniewski, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin plēbēius "member of the Roman plebs" (noun derivative of plēbēius, adjective, "of or relating to the plebs") + -an entry 1 — more at plebeian entry 2

Adjective

Latin plēbēius "of or relating to the plebs" (from plēbēs plebs + -ius, adjective suffix of appurtenance) + -an entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for plebeian

• aegean
• aptian
• boolean
• korean
• linnaean
• protean
• ruffian
• wolffian
• adlerian
• caesarian
• cyclopean
• european

Kids Definition

plebeian

noun

ple·​be·​ian

pli-ˈbē-(y)ən

1

: a member of the common people in ancient Rome

2

: one of the common people

plebeian adjective