plebeian

American  

[pli-bee-uhn, plee-bee-uhn] / plɪˈbi ən, ˈpliˌbi ən /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the common people.

2. of, relating to, or belonging to the ancient Roman plebs.

3. common, commonplace, or vulgar.

   a plebeian joke.

   Synonyms:

   popular, ordinary, low, lowbrow

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noun

• plebeians
  plural

1. a member of the common people.

2. a member of the ancient Roman plebs.

plebeian British  

/ pləˈbiːən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the common people, esp those of Rome

2. lacking refinement; vulgar

   plebeian tastes

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noun

1. one of the common people, esp one of the Roman plebs

2. a person who is coarse or lacking in discernment

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• plebeianism
  noun
• plebeianness
  noun
• unplebeian
  adjective
• plebeianly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• plebeians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of plebeian

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin plēbēi(us) “of the plebs” ( plēbē(s) “the common people” + -ius adjective suffix) + -an adjective suffix; see plebs

Explanation

In Roman times, the lower class of people was the plebeian class. Today, if something is plebeian, it is of the common people. When you hear the word plebeian used to describe a form of art or taste, it means that while something is liked by a lot of people, it may not be of the highest quality or taste. Both soap operas and reality television shows have been described as plebeian forms of entertainment. A member of the plebeian class is known as a pleb, which is pronounced "pleeb."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plebeian plebeians

Capacious Rolls-Royces and Bentleys rub bumpers with plebeian Honda Civics and Fiats, all seeking streetside spaces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Its practical function: No one, neither courtier nor plebeian, could stand close to the queen, conspicuous in her splendid isolation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2024

It has roots in both scholarly tea parties and plebeian street-side “tiger stoves” that sold hot water for brewing tea at home and then started setting up stools so customers could linger.

From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2021

There were the paeans from plebeian basketball fans and politicians alike, almost as if public genuflection to a sports idol were American dogma.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2020

This is what we can afford; but also there’s an unspoken rule that the food has to be unwaveringly plebeian.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Gladiatorial culture developed with the rise of what were known as games, or those events put on by elite Romans for plebeians and others socially beneath them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

But there are good deals for us plebeians if you know where to look.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 19, 2023

While the common people of ancient Rome were called plebeians, which word was used for a member of the Roman aristocracy?

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2023

Even after the plebeians gained legal concessions, the rich always held the upper hand because wealthy plebeians would regularly join with patricians to out-vote poorer plebeians.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020

These were appointed from the patricians, after a struggle on the part of the plebeians to get five selected from their own order; but, with a laudable regard to public order, they withdrew their opposition.

From The Comic History of Rome by Gilbert Abbott ? Becket