vulgarity

noun

vul·​gar·​i·​ty ˌvəl-ˈger-rə-tē 

-ˈga-rə-

plural vulgarities

1

: something vulgar

2

: the quality or state of being vulgar

Synonyms

• coarseness
• commonness
• crassness
• crudeness
• crudity
• grossness
• indelicacy
• indelicateness
• lowness
• raffishness
• rawness
• roughness
• rudeness
• tastelessness

Examples of vulgarity in a Sentence

a comedian known for her vulgarity

I was shocked by the vulgarity of his language.

He uttered a vulgarity and was silent.

We have a policy against printing vulgarities in our magazine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Eli doesn’t flinch at their graphic vulgarity but smiles warmly and appreciatively, as only John Goodman can smile. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 May 2025

His video streams are peppered with expletives, vulgarities and other language that many have disavowed in the name of political correctness. —Jack Crosbie, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Lashing out from the White House, Mr. Trump used a vulgarity to accuse Mr. Xi and Mr. Lam of plotting to exploit the United States. —Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025

Those incidents range from keying swastikas to spray-painting other vulgarities. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vulgarity

• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• hilarity
• molarity
• planarity
• polarity
• posterity
• prosperity

Kids Definition

vulgarity

noun

vul·​gar·​i·​ty ˌvəl-ˈgar-ət-ē 

plural vulgarities

1

: the quality or state of being vulgar

2

: something vulgar