1
a
: lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : coarse
b
: morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate : gross
c
: ostentatious or excessive in expenditure or display : pretentious
2
a
: offensive in language : earthy
b
: lewdly or profanely indecent
3
a
: generally used, applied, or accepted
b
: understood in or having the ordinary sense
they reject the vulgar conception of miracle—
W. R. Inge
W. R. Inge4
: vernacular
the vulgar name of a plant
vulgarly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of vulgar in a Sentence
He was a vulgar man.
She had a coarse, vulgar laugh.
I will not tolerate such vulgar language in my home.
Recent Examples on the Web
The video, which was posted on the same platform, which is often described as China’s Instagram, showed the couple taunting, using vulgar hand gestures, and jostling the chair of a female passenger who reclined her seat on a 14-hour flight from Hong Kong to London.
—Monica Pitrelli,serenitie Wang, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2024
The measures against wealth flaunting come amid a more general crackdown on what Beijing sees as morally problematic behaviors, such as viewing pornography, gambling, drug use, vulgar livestreaming and displaying contempt for low-income citizens.
—Dan Chen, The Conversation, 24 June 2024
The vulgar lyrics provide a world-building exercise in which Maeve’s self-indulgent behavior is exaggerated for comedic purposes.
—Matthew Creith, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2024
A lot of mirth comes from unexpectedly vulgar words erupting from ordinary dialogue or sweet melodies.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vulgar 
Monica Pitrelli,serenitie Wang, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2024
The measures against wealth flaunting come amid a more general crackdown on what Beijing sees as morally problematic behaviors, such as viewing pornography, gambling, drug use, vulgar livestreaming and displaying contempt for low-income citizens.
—Dan Chen, The Conversation, 24 June 2024
The vulgar lyrics provide a world-building exercise in which Maeve’s self-indulgent behavior is exaggerated for comedic purposes.
—Matthew Creith, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2024
A lot of mirth comes from unexpectedly vulgar words erupting from ordinary dialogue or sweet melodies.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vulgar
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vulgar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near vulgar
Cite this Entry
“Vulgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulgar. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vulgar
adjective
vul·gar
ˈvəl-gər 
1
: generally used, applied, or accepted
2
: of or relating to common speech : vernacular entry 1
the vulgar name of a plant
3
: of or relating to the common people
the vulgar opinion of the time
4
a
: lacking in good manners or taste : coarse
a loud vulgar belch
b
: morally crude
c
: tastelessly showy : pretentious
5
: offensive in language : obscene
a vulgar joke
vulgarly
adverb
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