vulgarity

American  

[vuhl-gar-i-tee] / vʌlˈgær ɪ ti /

noun

• vulgarities
  plural

1. the state or quality of being vulgar.

   the vulgarity of his remark.

   Synonyms:

   tastelessness, indelicacy, grossness, crudeness

2. something vulgar, as an act or expression.

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vulgarity British  

/ vʌlˈɡærɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being vulgar; lack of good manners

2. a vulgar action, phrase, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonvulgarity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vulgarities
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vulgarity vulgarities

In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X: "We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour."

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The ostentatious displays of deference he demanded, and received, from heads of state and CEOs manifested an arrogance that enraged some participants and a vulgarity that revolted others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 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

His inauguration unfolded like a grotesque pageant, a theater of excess where power and cruelty met on a stage gilded in vulgarity.

From Salon ● Jan. 31, 2025

Later, returning home, he regaled Blanca with accounts of the vulgarity of these stale, out-of-date families, whose daughters were still chaperoned and whose gentlemen wore scapulars.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Mr. Trump’s vulgarities do cause distress among Republicans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

Before his rightward turn, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was applauded by progressives for his working-class-coded vulgarities and his penchant for hoodies and basketball shorts.

From Slate ● Dec. 10, 2025

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

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

Related Words

• obscenity
• profanity