vulgarity
Americannoun
-
vulgarities
plural
-
the state or quality of being vulgar.
the vulgarity of his remark.
- Synonyms:
- tastelessness, indelicacy, grossness, crudeness
-
something vulgar, as an act or expression.
noun
-
the condition of being vulgar; lack of good manners
-
a vulgar action, phrase, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of vulgarity
First recorded in 1570–80, vulgarity is from the Late Latin word vulgāritās commonness, the public. See vulgar, -ity
Explanation
Vulgarity is the quality of being crude and lacking refinement. Many people consider swearing to be a form of vulgarity. One of the criteria used in assessing a movie's rating is how much vulgarity is involved. Shows on premium cable or streaming services can generally include more vulgarity — crass language or humor, and adult situations — than shows on network television. Vulgarity comes from the Latin word vulgaris, meaning "relating to the common people" or "low and common."
Vocabulary lists containing vulgarity
Journalism
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Mitt Romney's comments about Donald Trump
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A Clockwork Orange
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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:
In Trump’s first term, about 40% of his speeches contained at least one use of vulgarity.
From Salon ● May 26, 2026
A 2013 analysis of online newspaper forums found that 53% of anonymous comments contained attacks or vulgarity, compared with 29% from users who had to identify themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026
It is an astonishing, so to speak, over-the-top score, which you either love or abhor for its instrumental vulgarity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2025
"Knowing the vulgarity of the old world, today I try to avoid being listened to by the new world – so that I don't come across as detestable," he told the court.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2025
Across the pastures, the incredible vulgarity of highly amplified hillbilly music drifted from the cafe on the highway.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
Mr. Trump’s vulgarities do cause distress among Republicans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
In her recent New York Times article about the "coarsening" of the religious right, Ruth Graham alluded to this, writing about the trend of evangelical leaders using "vulgarities."
From Salon ● Apr. 1, 2024
It is heartening, however, to see people of all races protesting the racist vulgarities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2022
“We are still inclined to be somewhat restrained — for instance, by avoiding the actual vulgarities in headlines,” Mr. Corbett said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2018
He was so sure of his own good breeding, he could laugh affectionately at the rich-quick vulgarities of the uncle who had adopted him and from whom he had inherited his fortune.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
