vulgarism

American  

[vuhl-guh-riz-uhm] / ˈvʌl gəˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. vulgar behavior or character; vulgarity.

2. a vulgar expression; a word or phrase used only in common colloquial, and especially in coarse, speech.

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vulgarism British  

/ ˈvʌlɡəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. a coarse, crude, or obscene expression

2. a word or phrase found only in the vulgar form of a language

3. another word for vulgarity

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Etymology

Origin of vulgarism

First recorded in 1635–45; vulgar + -ism

Example Sentences

Well, the Games brought a large wave of vulgarism to Hyde Park for the men's triathlon on Tuesday and I was happy to be part of it.

From The Guardian • Aug. 8, 2012

But the Online Etymology Dictionary insists that the Yiddish vulgarism actually comes from the Old Polish “smok,” meaning “grass snake” or “dragon.”

From New York Times • May 3, 2010

The predominant fault of the bad English encountered today is not the crude vulgarism of the untaught but the blithe irresponsibility of the taught.

From Time Magazine Archive

Old Lady Ely used to say that Lord Fife was one of the few men who could with impunity quiz, as it were, the Queen� to use a vulgarism, get the best of her.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Scotland, though the English may regard it as a vulgarism, I have heard the word used in this form.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 99, September 20, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various