crassness

Crassness denotes a quality or attitude of being insensitive, vulgar or lacking subtlety. The term derives from the English adjective crass, which itself is borrowed from the Latin crassus meaning “thick” or “fat.” In contemporary usage it often carries a negative moral judgement, suggesting that a person’s remarks or behaviour are unrefined, thoughtless, or devoid of respect for others.

The word is used both literally and figuratively. Literally, crassness can describe a physical lack of refinement, such as a body that feels heavy or clumsy. Figuratively, it is applied to speech, writing, or conduct that is crude, tone‑deaf, or lacking in tact. Expressions such as “crass comments” or “crass humour” are common in popular discourse and literary criticism. Critics of literature and film will sometimes deprecate an author’s crassness when an otherwise polished narrative includes blunt, unfiltered dialogue.

Synonyms include crudeness, coarseness, rudeness, and vulgarity. While these words are similar, crassness specifically implies a kind of indiscriminate frankness rather than a deliberate intent to insult. In contrast, words like “rude” convey disrespect, whereas “crass” suggests a failure to anticipate social nuance.

In sociolinguistic studies, crassness is examined as part of discourse that challenges politeness norms or as a strategy to highlight authenticity in social media communication. The term has been discussed in works on pragmatics and face theory (e.g., Brown and Levinson, 1987). It is generally viewed as undesirable in formal, academic, or professional contexts, though it can be employed intentionally in satire or countercultural movements.