Vulgar

Vulgar is an adjective with several related but distinct senses. In historical and linguistic use, it originally meant "of the common people" and referred to the everyday speech of the masses. In modern English, vulgar commonly carries a pejorative sense, describing things that are coarse, indecent, or in poor taste. The word’s evolution reflects a shift from neutral social description to value-laden judgments about manners, language, and culture.

Etymology: Vulgar derives from Latin vulgaris "of the common people," from vulgus "the crowd, the common people." It entered English in the Middle Ages with senses of "common" or "ordinary." From the 18th century onward, it increasingly acquired connotations of crudeness.

Uses: In linguistics or philology, "Vulgar Latin" denotes the set of spoken forms of Latin used by ordinary speakers in the late Roman Empire, which evolved into the Romance languages. In general discourse, "vulgar language" or "vulgar slang" refers to informal speech of everyday speakers and may include profanity or explicit terms, though vulgarity also extends to style and behavior.

Distinctions: The term is not synonymous with profanity, though there is overlap. Profanity lists obscene words; vulgarity refers to broader impressions of coarseness, lack of refinement, or tasteless conduct.

Cultural note: Attitudes toward vulgarity vary by culture, era, and context. Some contexts valorize vernacular speech as authentic or practical, while others stigmatize it as inappropriate.