adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/pliˈbiːən/
/plɛbˈiːən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːən
CMU ARPABET:P L AH0 B IY1 AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of or concerning the common people.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Latin plēbēius (“a commoner; common”) + -an (adjective-forming suffix), from Latin plēbēs + -ius (adjective-forming suffix), possibly under the influence of Middle French plebeyen, plebein, plebien (“a commoner”) and plebeien (“concerning the common people”). Cf. Medieval Latin plēbēiānus (“a commoner”), from plēbēius + -ānus.
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
պլեբեյական
(plebeyakan)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Armenian:
ռամկական
(ṙamkakan)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Bulgarian:
плебейски
(plebejski)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Catalan:
plebeu
— of or pertaining to the common people
Czech:
plebejský
— of or pertaining to the common people
Dutch:
plebejisch
— of or pertaining to the common people
Dutch:
volks
— of or pertaining to the common people
Dutch:
vulgair
— of or pertaining to the common people
Finnish:
rahvaanomainen
— of or pertaining to the common people
French:
plébéien
— of or pertaining to the common people
German:
plebejisch
— of or pertaining to the common people
Italian:
plebeo
— of or pertaining to the common people
Japanese:
賎しい
(iyashii)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Japanese:
下賎な
(gesen na)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Japanese:
平民の
(heimin no)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Japanese:
庶民の
(shomin no)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Latin:
plebeius
— of or pertaining to the common people
Malay:
marhaen
— of or pertaining to the common people
Persian:
عامیانه
('âmiyâne)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Persian:
عوامانه
('avâmâne)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Polish:
plebejski
— of or pertaining to the common people
Portuguese:
plebeu
— of or pertaining to the common people
Russian:
плебе́йский
(plebéjskij)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Slovak:
plebejský
— of or pertaining to the common people
Spanish:
plebeyo
— of or pertaining to the common people
Spanish:
barriobajero
— of or pertaining to the common people
Swedish:
plebejisk
— of or pertaining to the common people
Ukrainian:
плебе́йський
(plebéjsʹkyj)
— of or pertaining to the common people
Armenian:
պլեբեյ
(plebey)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Belarusian:
плебе́й
(pljebjéj)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Bulgarian:
плебе́й
(plebéj)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Catalan:
plebeu
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Chinese Mandarin:
平民
(píngmín)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Chinese Mandarin:
庶民
(shùmín)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Czech:
plebej
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Czech:
plebejec
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Danish:
plebejer
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Dutch:
plebejer
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Finnish:
plebeiji
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
French:
plébéien
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
German:
Plebejer
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Greek:
πληβείος
(pliveíos)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Ancient Greek:
πληβεῖος
(plēbeîos)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Hungarian:
plebejus
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Indonesian:
plebian
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Italian:
plebeo
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Japanese:
平民
(heimin)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Japanese:
庶民
(shomin)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Japanese:
下下
(shimojimo)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Korean:
평민
(pyeongmin)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Korean:
서민
(seomin)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Latin:
plēbēius
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Macedonian:
плебеец
(plebeec)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Māori:
kāraroraro
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Māori:
tautauhea
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Māori:
tautauwhea
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Polish:
plebejusz
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Portuguese:
plebeu
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Romanian:
plebeu
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Russian:
плебе́й
(plebéj)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Serbo-Croatian:
плебе́јац
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Serbo-Croatian:
plebéjac
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Slovak:
plebejec
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Slovene:
plebejec
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Spanish:
plebeyo
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Swedish:
plebej
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
Ukrainian:
плебе́й
(plebéj)
— one of the common people of ancient Rome
