plebeian

1 of 2

noun

ple·​be·​ian pli-ˈbē-ən 

1

: a member of the Roman plebs

2

: one of the common people

plebeianism

pli-ˈbē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

plebeian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to plebeians

2

: crude or coarse in manner or style : common

plebeianly adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• baseborn
• common
• humble
• ignoble
• inferior
• low
• low-life
• lowborn
• lower-class
• lowly
• lumpen
• mean
• prole
• proletarian
• unwashed
• vulgar

Examples of plebeian in a Sentence

Adjective

wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For us plebeians, riding a ski resort gondola means adhering to a lengthy set of rules. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024

Then there are normal dishes for plebeians not concerned with social-media fame, like chicken wings with spicy pineapple sauce, fiery papaya salad with long beans and an excellent green curry with eggplant as shiny-purple as an exotic beetle. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024

Adjective

Skeptics might shrug their shoulders at this plebeian fare. —Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

View Photos These plebeian sedans don't exhibit the manic price inflation seen in much of the automotive market. —Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 4 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin plēbēius "member of the Roman plebs" (noun derivative of plēbēius, adjective, "of or relating to the plebs") + -an entry 1 — more at plebeian entry 2

Adjective

Latin plēbēius "of or relating to the plebs" (from plēbēs plebs + -ius, adjective suffix of appurtenance) + -an entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

plebeian

noun

ple·​be·​ian

pli-ˈbē-(y)ən

1

: a member of the common people in ancient Rome

2

: one of the common people

plebeian adjective