Vulgar Latin

noun

: the nonclassical Latin of ancient Rome including the speech of plebeians and the informal speech of the educated established by comparative evidence as the chief source of the Romance languages

Examples of Vulgar Latin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This word is related to miner (to mine), which originates from the Vulgar Latin minare (to lead or drive animals), a term used in medieval Latin for digging or extracting minerals. Erik Kain, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vulgar Latin was in 1643

Dictionary Entries Near Vulgar Latin

Cite this Entry

“Vulgar Latin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vulgar%20Latin. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Vulgar Latin

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!