vulgarity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vulgarity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to crude or offensive language or behavior. An example: "His speech was filled with vulgarity, making it inappropriate for the audience." Alternative expressions include "coarseness" and "indecency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He also pointed that Delaney would have plenty of time in the future to worry about words such as "form", which mean something, and concepts like "vulgarity", which don't.

The Guardian

But Salinger pushes this further with Holden Caulfield prone to bouts of vulgarity, psychotic happenings and erratic behaviour.

The Guardian

In 2000, when Trevor Beattie's "fcuk" campaign for French Connection was a sensation, Abbott wrote censoriously to Campaign, the trade paper, to complain about vulgarity.

The Guardian

And his infamous picture of naked female backs adorned by Floyd artwork was a rare surrender to music-biz vulgarity, though he seemed to like it.

The Guardian - Music

In 2007 David Cameron's "quality of life" group condemned Livingstone's "vulgarity of bigness", complaining that the ugly location of his towers was damaging London's appearance, its history and its tourist economy.

The Guardian - Opinion

("That 'Ode to Joy', talk about vulgarity! And the text!

The Economist

Visitors can see slinky gowns covered in sinuous dragons that were inspired by her roles, and listen to Billie Holiday's rendition of "These Foolish Things", whose lyrics Wong also inspired, as clips of her roles shimmer across the walls.In an exhibition of such excess, it is surprising to come across vulgarity.

The Economist

It would not occur to him to demand one.Indeed, Silicon Valley displays a remarkable lack of vulgarity compared with (now poorer) New York or Los Angeles.

The Economist

To most people, Versace was associated more with vulgarity than high art.

The Economist

As a result, officials in Beijing have put pressure on the capital's shops to withdraw his works.China's culture minister, Cai Wu, joined the attack on vulgarity on August 6th.

The Economist

So we'll take a decision on the round, based upon the extent to which we can support their plans and the extent to which they can support ours.Bagehot: Half a billion pounds extra for Northern Ireland, call it a billion?PR: You're getting back to the vulgarity of dealing with the amounts of money.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal essays, "vulgarity" serves as an effective academic contrast to terms like 'high art' or 'refinement'.

Common error

Do not limit "vulgarity" exclusively to swearing. While profanity is a subset, the term encompasses broader categories like gaudy fashion, boisterous behavior or a lack of intellectual depth.

Linguistic Context

The word "vulgarity" functions as an abstract noun, typically serving as the head of a noun phrase. It can act as a subject, direct object or the object of a preposition in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its use as a standard term for characterizing behavior or objects that violate social norms of taste.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "vulgarity" is a versatile and grammatically correct noun according to Ludwig AI. It is widely utilized in high-quality journalism and academic discourse to denote a lack of refinement or the presence of offensive elements. While it is often associated with crude language, its application extends to aesthetic judgments and social behavior, particularly when contrasting 'low' and 'high' culture. Sources like The Economist and The Guardian frequently employ the term to critique public figures, art movements and social trends. For writers, it remains a powerful tool for sophisticated social commentary, provided it is used to describe a broad spectrum of unrefined attributes rather than just foul language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

coarseness

Focuses on a lack of refinement or a rough, unpolished nature

profanity

Specifically refers to the use of foul or blasphemous language

tastelessness

Emphasizes a lack of aesthetic judgment or social propriety

obscenity

Implies a more extreme level of offense, often with sexual or legal connotations

crudeness

Suggests a raw or primitive lack of social grace

indecency

Relates more to a violation of moral or public standards

raunchiness

A more informal term for sexually explicit or earthy behavior

commonness

Historically linked to lower social class or lack of distinction

grossness

Informal term emphasizing physical repulsiveness or excess

ribaldry

Specifically denotes coarse, bawdy humor or joking

FAQs

What can I say instead of "vulgarity"?

Depending on the context, you can use terms like "<a href="/s/coarseness" target="_blank" rel="alternative">coarseness", "<a href="/s/profanity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">profanity" or "<a href="/s/tastelessness" target="_blank" rel="alternative">tastelessness".

How do I use "vulgarity" in a sentence?

You might say, 'The exhibition was criticized for its exuberant "vulgarity" and lack of artistic merit.' This follows the usage patterns seen in Ludwig's examples from The Economist.

Is "vulgarity" considered a formal word?

Yes, "vulgarity" is a high-register noun frequently appearing in academic journals and quality journalism to describe social or aesthetic phenomena.

What is the difference between "vulgarity" and "obscenity"?

While "vulgarity" refers to general lack of taste or refinement, "<a href="/s/obscenity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">obscenity" typically involves a more intense or illegal level of moral offense, often sexual in nature.