1300-1400Latinvulgaris, from volgus, vulgus ‘common people’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Vulgar fashions filled the store windows.
vulgar language
a vulgar display of wealth
He ruined the evening with his vulgar talk about women and about how much he could drink.
Norman was a vulgar, ignorant man.
The article describes the vulgar excesses of the newly rich.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Carew's immediate response was that it was garish and vulgar, like Durkin himself.
Crowe then had the vulgar audacity to offer me a pitiful ten quid if I revealed the manager's name.
It was an especially vulgar affair.
Its vulgar images seduce many people.
The jokes are expected to be vulgar.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone talks about sex in an offensive way►crude
someone who is crude talks about sex in a way that is direct and offensive, and is often deliberately trying to shock people: · The comedian wasn't funny at all; he was just crude and offensive.· She was worried that her husband's crude remarks might have upset some of the guests.
►coarse
someone who is coarse is impolite and offensive in the way they talk about sex: · She tried to ignore his coarse jokes and crude innuendoes -- he was obviously drunk.
►vulgar
someone who is vulgar or who makes vulgar jokes and remarks talks about sex in a very direct and offensive way: · He ruined the evening with his vulgar talk about women and about how much he could drink.
something that has not been made or chosen with good taste►tasteless
not made or chosen with good taste: · It was an ugly room with tasteless decorations and shabby furniture.· I think a lot of modern architecture is completely tasteless.
►vulgar
not chosen with taste - use this about things that cost a lot of money or are very brightly coloured, and are bought to impress people: · Vulgar fashions filled the store windows.· The article describes the vulgar excesses of the newly rich.
►cheap
unattractive, of poor quality, and showing a lack of good taste: · The interior of the car is all plastic and has a cheap look about it.· The girls wore bright frilly dresses and were drenched in cheap perfume.
►naff
British informal use this about something that you think shows very bad taste: · Most people think taking a package holiday in Bognor is really naff.· Don't wear that shirt with those slacks -- it looks naff.
►tacky
informal cheap-looking and showing very bad taste: · cheap, tacky furniture in bright colors· The room was decorated to look like a cartoon Swiss village, but managed to be cheerfully tacky.
►kitsch/kitschy
cheap, unfashionable, and showing very bad taste, but often in an amusing way: · the kitschy decor of the Mexican restaurant· Tourists lined up to buy postcards and assorted kitsch souvenirs.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES►a coarse/vulgar expression
(=one that is rude)· He came out with some vulgar expressions that I couldn’t possibly repeat.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB►as
· Next, the things ordinary people like are dismissed as vulgar.· Vulgar, but not as vulgar as Louis Vuitton, thought Sherman.· Max Weinreich describes the level of usage as vulgar.
1remarks, jokes etc that are vulgar deal with sex in a very rude and offensive way2not behaving politely in social situationsSYN uncouth: vulgar behaviour3not showing good judgment about what is beautiful or suitable: a vulgar check suit—vulgarly adverb