Vulgarity:

"Primary Definitions

According to standard dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary or Merriam-Webster, "vulgar" has several core meanings, which can overlap depending on context:

1. Lacking Refinement or Good Taste (Most Common Modern Usage):
   • This refers to something crude, unrefined, or tasteless, often in behavior, art, or aesthetics. It's subjective and tied to cultural norms—what one person finds vulgar, another might see as authentic or bold.
   • Example: "The comedian's vulgar jokes about bodily functions offended some audience members." Here, "vulgar" implies coarseness that violates social decorum.
   • Honesty note: This usage can be classist or snobbish, as it often critiques popular or working-class expressions as inferior to "refined" ones. For instance, street art might be dismissed as vulgar by traditional critics, while others celebrate it as vibrant.
2. Relating to the Common or Ordinary People (Neutral or Archaic):
   • In this sense, it's synonymous with "vernacular" or "popular," without inherent negativity. It describes things accessible to or characteristic of the general public.
   • Example: "Vulgar Latin" refers to the everyday spoken form of Latin that evolved into the Romance languages (like French, Spanish, and Italian), as opposed to Classical Latin used by scholars.
   • Another: In mathematics, a "vulgar fraction" (now more commonly called a "common fraction") is a simple fraction like 3/4, as opposed to a decimal.
3. Obscene, Indecent, or Lewd (Especially in Language or Behavior):
• This emphasizes profanity, sexual explicitness, or rudeness. It's often linked to "vulgarity" as a noun, meaning coarse speech or actions.
• Example: "He was reprimanded for using vulgar language in the workplace." This could include swear words or explicit slang.
• Depth: In linguistics, "vulgar" can describe taboo words or dialects considered low-status. For instance, in historical texts, "vulgar tongue" meant the native language of a region (e.g., English as the vulgar tongue vs. Latin in medieval Europe). Today, it's more pejorative, overlapping with terms like "profane" or "obscene." "
  
  
  
  

"Synonyms: Crude, coarse, uncouth, tasteless, obscene, lowbrow.

Antonyms: Refined, elegant, sophisticated, cultured, polite."

"In global English, "vulgar" can vary by region. ... in British English, it might lean more toward bad taste."

"In everyday speech, people might use "vulgar" interchangeably with "rude," but it carries a stronger implication of social inferiority."