Vulgarism
/ˈvʌl.ɡə.rɪ.zəm/noun
A vulgar or coarse expression, or a use of language considered nonstandard or incorrect.
Did you know?Vulgarism comes from Latin *vulgaris* (“common, of the crowd”), from *vulgus* (“the common people”), so its original force was social, not obscene: language labeled “vulgar” was simply marked as belonging to the masses.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to will, wish; to choose”
Latin
Latin
vulgus
“the common people, the crowd”
Latin
Latin
vulgaris
“common, ordinary, belonging to the people”
Late Latin
Latin
vulgarismus
“a vulgar expression or usage”
Middle English
English
vulgarisme
“a vulgar word, expression, or usage”
Modern English
English
vulgarism
“a coarse, nonstandard, or offensive expression”