plebeian

[pli-bee-uhn]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plebeian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the common people.

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

common, commonplace, or vulgar: a plebeian joke.

noun

a member of the common people.

a member of the ancient Roman plebs.

Nearby words

Origin of plebeian

1525–35; < Latin plēbēi(us) of the plebs (plēbē(s) plebs + -ius adj. suffix) + -an

SYNONYMS FOR plebeian

3. lowbrow, low, ordinary, popular.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plebeian ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsple·be·ian·ism, nounple·be·ian·ly, adverbple·be·ian·ness, nounun·ple·be·ian, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for plebeian

Well; there is nothing like being a plebeian and a Prime Minister!
Vivian Grey|Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
Therefore, there is no harm in giving his plebeian name, which was Potts.
The Virgin of the Sun|H. R. Haggard
It was the old axiom of knight-errantry adapted to our own century, which made every weapon fair used against the plebeian!
Roland Cashel|Charles James Lever
All this he knew and reckoned with, for she was a princess and he but a plebeian passing by.
The Man From Brodney's|George Barr McCutcheon

He is loth to acknowledge that he was ever a plebeian and did all kinds of servile work.
Every-Day Errors of Speech|L. P. Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for plebeian

plebeian

adjective

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

lacking refinement; vulgarplebeian tastes

noun

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

a person who is coarse or lacking in discernment

Derived Formsplebeianism, noun

Word Origin for plebeian

C16: from Latin plēbēius belonging to the people, from plēbs the common people of ancient Rome

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plebeian

plebeian

adj.

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.

plebeian

"member of the lowest class," 1530s, from Latin plebius "person not of noble rank," from adjective meaning "of the common people" (see plebeian (adj.)).

plebeian

adjective

noun

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Origin of plebeian

Examples from the Web for plebeian

plebeian

adjective

noun

Word Origin for plebeian

plebeian

plebeian