plebeian
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of the common people, esp those of Rome
-
lacking refinement; vulgar
plebeian tastes
noun
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one of the common people, esp one of the Roman plebs
-
a person who is coarse or lacking in discernment
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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."
Vocabulary lists containing plebeian
Julius Caesar
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Ancient Rome - Introductory
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100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
All the enlightened reformers in Europe were desperately trying to eliminate the peasant peculiarities and plebeian dialects that divided the peoples of their nations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
So as a mere plebeian author interviewing Dan Brown for the first time, I needed to know: After you’ve sold 200 million books, does it get any easier?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2025
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
He liked the community’s stasis, its plebeian virtues and unassuming mien.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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
Roman society was divided into two classes or orders, patricians and plebeians.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
"So it does; the grand personages enter by that door, but plebeians, like ourselves, are lucky to get in the back way," replied the doctor, laughing.
From The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence by Sue, Eug?ne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
