plebeian
- belonging or pertaining to the common people.
- of, relating to, or belonging to the ancient Roman plebs.
- common, commonplace, or vulgar: a plebeian joke.
- a member of the common people.
- a member of the ancient Roman plebs.
Origin of plebeian
Synonyms for plebeian
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for plebeian
common, pedestrian, low, ordinary, mean, proletarian, commoner, peasant, pleb, commonalty, plebe, banal, coarse, conventional, humble, ignoble, lowly, popular, traditional, uncultivatedExamples from the Web for plebeian
Historical Examples of plebeian
He's a plebeian from his thick shoe soles to his thin hair; but he's honest.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
Well; there is nothing like being a plebeian and a Prime Minister!
Vivian GreyEarl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
Just this: you'll have to fight; and if you were a 'Gemeiner'—a plebeian—you'd get off.
A Day's RideCharles James Lever
I believe he was shocked by my plebeian abruptness but he was too polite to show it.
The Arrow of GoldJoseph Conrad
He was a German plebeian, with no chance ever to improve his condition.
The Blot on the Kaiser's 'ScutcheonNewell Dwight Hillis
plebeian
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the common people, esp those of Rome
- lacking refinement; vulgarplebeian tastes
- one of the common people, esp one of the Roman plebs
- a person who is coarse or lacking in discernment
Word Origin for plebeian
Word Origin and History for plebeian
also plebian, "of or characteristic of the lower class," 1560s in a Roman historical sense, from Latin plebeius "belonging to the plebs," earlier plebes, "the populace, the common people" (as opposed to patricians, etc.), also "commonality; the mass, the multitude; the lower class," from PIE *ple- (see pleio-). In general (non-historical) use from 1580s.
"member of the lowest class," 1530s, from Latin plebius "person not of noble rank," from adjective meaning "of the common people" (see plebeian (adj.)).