Rabble is a dismissive term for a disorganized, noisy crowd of ordinary people. When someone calls a group “the rabble,” they're suggesting the people are unruly, uncouth, or unimportant. A grumpy shopkeeper might complain about “the rabble” crowding his store during a sale, or a snobbish character in a story might turn up their nose at “the rabble” in the streets below.

The word carries a strong negative tone and reveals more about the speaker than the crowd. Calling people rabble shows disrespect and snobbery. It treats regular folks as if they're nothing more than a chaotic mob rather than individuals with their own thoughts and dignity.

Sometimes the phrase rabble-rouser describes someone who stirs up crowds to action, often through emotional speeches. While rabble-rouser can be an insult suggesting someone manipulates people's emotions, it's also been worn as a badge of honor by activists fighting for important causes.