What does vulgarer mean?
Vulgarer is the comparative form of the adjective vulgar. It describes something as more coarse, tasteless, indecent, offensive, or lacking refinement. The word is commonly used when comparing two people, expressions, works, or behaviours, particularly in phrases such as “vulgarer than” and “the vulgarer version.” “More vulgar” may sound more natural in some contexts, especially when the comparison is broad, but “vulgarer” is fully grammatical. Although “vulgar” can sometimes describe something as merely unsophisticated, it frequently implies deliberate offensiveness or a failure to observe standards of decency. This makes “vulgarer” useful for describing not only rudeness, but also the increasingly exaggerated or crass quality of a joke, performance, image, or remark. The word also reflects a notable historical change: its ancestor originally referred to what was common or associated with ordinary people, before acquiring its present negative connotations.
comparative adjectiveThe comparative of vulgar. It means more vulgar: less refined or more offensive, indecent, or coarse.
- More offensive, indecent, or coarse than something else.
- Less refined, cultured, or sophisticated than something else.
- In older usage, more common, general, or popularly understood.
"The later painting was vulgarer, trading restraint for lurid color and exaggerated gesture."
"He became vulgarer as the discussion turned to personal attacks."
"The revised version was vulgarer because the editor added crude jokes that were absent from the original."
A word once associated with the common people, “vulgarer” now often marks a shift toward something coarse, tasteless, or deliberately offensive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vulgarer come from?
Vulgarer is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er to vulgar. Vulgar entered Middle English through Old French vulgaire, ultimately from Latin vulgaris, meaning “common” or “ordinary,” which was derived from vulgus, meaning “crowd” or “common people.” Its older sense of being common or general developed into meanings such as ordinary and unrefined, and later offensive or indecent.
Related word forms
How vulgarer is actually used
The form is standard in both British and American English. “More vulgar” is often preferred for general comparison, while “vulgarly” is the conventional adverb describing manner. The word can imply merely lack of refinement, but it often carries a stronger sense of offensiveness or indecency.