vulgarity
Americannoun
-
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.
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
Since the pandemic, there has been an incredible phenomenon where vulgarity, crude humor and haunting news have gone viral on social-media platforms, creating an entertainment expectation from our representatives.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
The real marvel, in this instance, being the avoidance of vulgarity.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 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
The woman wore a fashionable wrap, high shiny boots, and tapered pants; the man lounged in a rumpled shirt and stained trousers, giving an air of almost deliberate vulgarity.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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.
