pleb
UK[plɛb]US[plɛb]
n
A common person, especially one from a lower social class (often used in a derogatory or humorous way).
n
(Informal, chiefly British) A person lacking in refinement or culture.
Etymology
The word "pleb" is a modern, informal shortening of "plebeian," a term with ancient Roman roots. In Latin, plebs referred to the general citizenry, distinct from the privileged patrician class. The adjective plebeius described anything pertaining to this common populace. Over centuries, the term was adopted into English, carrying connotations of low social rank or lack of sophistication. The clipped form "pleb" emerged in the 19th century, retaining the core meaning but often with a more deliberately dismissive or mocking tone.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It is a direct clipping of the English word "plebeian," which originates from Latin plebeius ("of the common people"), from plebs ("the common people").
Examples
The snobbish aristocrat dismissed the crowd as a bunch of plebs.
He was accused of having pleb tastes in music and food.
The political campaign tried to appeal to the ordinary plebs rather than the elite.