Standard Lemma guide

vulgarism

noun · 5 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Vulgarity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • "Shit" is a vulgarism.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A spelling, word, or phrase used in common speech that is considered improper or incorrect for formal communication.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Editors of newspapers allow more vulgarisms to go to print today than they used to.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the quality of lacking taste and refinement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: coarseness, commonness, grossness, vulgarity, raunch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inelegance

5

noun

Meaning 5

an offensive or indecent word or phrase

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obscenity, smut, filth, dirty word

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: profanity

Narrower terms: bawdry, bawdy, scatology

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English vulgar Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English vulgarism From vulgar + -ism.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: вулгаризъм (vulgarizǎm) — word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar
  • Czech: vulgarismus — word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar
  • German: Vulgarismus — word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar
  • Polish: wulgaryzm — word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar
  • Russian: вульгари́зм (vulʹgarízm) — word or term that is considered offensive or vulgar
  • Galician: vulgarismo — spelling, word, or phrase considered improper or incorrect for formal communication
  • Manx: caaynt chadjin — spelling, word, or phrase considered improper or incorrect for formal communication
  • Spanish: vulgarismo — spelling, word, or phrase considered improper or incorrect for formal communication