Entry Word: vulgar

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <paintings that appeal to the vulgar taste> — see ignoble 1
2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a warning about the movieʼs vulgar language> — see obscene 1
3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the vulgar opinion is that the nation is in decline> — see general 3
4 lacking in refinement or good taste <vulgar behavior shown by someone whoʼs made a lot of money and wants everyone to know it> — see coarse 2
5 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <Latin was once the language of scholars, and English the vulgar language used by the common people> — see colloquial 1