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

But an unpleasant incident with a public transit plebeian leads Leighton to ponder the direction of her life. —Rachel Seo, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024

May 31 is International Flight Attendant Day, but like us plebeians, most flight attendants circle Black Friday on their calendars first. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Once upon a time, a doddering old man spoke of a dream about a united city in this empire’s capital, where every man, woman, and child could walk its streets and live a good life regardless of their patrician or plebeian birthright. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024

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