plebeian

play

noun ple·be·ian \pli-ˈbē-ən\

Definition of plebeian

1 : a member of the Roman plebs
2 : one of the common people

plebeianism

play \-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

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Origin and Etymology of plebeian

Latin plebeius of the common people, from plebs common people

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

See Words from the same year

Other Sociology Terms

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

plebeian

adjective ple·be·ian

Definition of plebeian

1 : of or relating to plebeians
2 : crude or coarse in manner or style : common

plebeianly

adverb

Examples of plebeian in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of plebeian from the Web

I got preoccupied feeding my dog (so plebeian!) and promptly forgot, a mistake that came back to haunt me during my subsequent photo op.

— marina khorosh, Vogue, "Can a Kim Kardashian West Makeover Improve Your Dating Life?," 30 June 2017
The Tungsten is distinguished from the more plebeian Ram Limited by a segment-first suede headliner, exclusive white-and-indigo leather not unlike that in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, real wood trim, and body-color exterior components.

— duncan brady, Car and Driver, "Heavier Metal: 2018 Ram Limited Tungsten Editions Add Heft to Prices," 27 June 2017
Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability Braking For all of its dynamic superiority versus more plebeian crossovers, the Jaguar’s brake pedal delivers a disappointing initial squish when pressed.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "2017 Jaguar F-Pace," 1 June 2017
Once, the Hanks family was taking a tour of the place like any plebeian could, and Hanks's wife, Rita Wilson, ran into George W. Bush while he was headed to the gym.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Tom Hank’s Favorite White House Memory Involves George W. Bush, Rita Wilson, and a Dead Bird," 30 Mar. 2017
The boy who said that the emperor had no clothes was not an élitist insulting the plebeian parade spectators.

— adam gopnik, The New Yorker, "Trying (and Failing) Not to Fear So Much About Trump," 17 Feb. 2017
Its newest products are savings accounts and consumer loans, plebeian products that Goldman would never have deigned to offer before the crisis.

— nathaniel popper, New York Times, "Site Information Navigation," 2 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plebeian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.