plebeian

[ pli-bee-uhn ]
/ plɪˈbi ən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR plebeian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the common people.
of, relating to, or belonging to the ancient Roman plebs.
common, commonplace, or vulgar: a plebeian joke.

noun

a member of the common people.
a member of the ancient Roman plebs.

Origin of plebeian

1525–35; < Latin plēbēi(us) of the plebs ( plēbē(s) plebs + -ius adj. suffix) + -an

OTHER WORDS FROM plebeian

ple·be·ian·ism, noun ple·be·ian·ly, adverb ple·be·ian·ness, noun un·ple·be·ian, adjective

Words nearby plebeian

pleat, pleater, pleb, plebby, plebe, plebeian, plebiscite, plebs, plecopteran, plectognath, plectron

Words related to plebeian

common, pedestrian, low, ordinary, mean, proletarian, commoner, peasant, pleb, commonalty, plebe, banal, coarse, conventional, humble, ignoble, lowly, popular, traditional, uncultivated

Example sentences from the Web for plebeian

British Dictionary definitions for plebeian

plebeian
/ (pləˈbiːən) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the common people, esp those of Rome
lacking refinement; vulgar plebeian tastes

noun

one of the common people, esp one of the Roman plebs
a person who is coarse or lacking in discernment

Derived forms of plebeian

plebeianism, noun

Word Origin for plebeian

C16: from Latin plēbēius belonging to the people, from plēbs the common people of ancient Rome