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

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

He is the originator of the hideous vulgarism of using 'contact' as a verb�We contacted Mr. Smith.'

From Time Magazine Archive

Slang is a form of vulgarism that is very prevalent in its use even by educated people.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas