Vulgar means crude, rude, or lacking good taste and manners. When someone makes vulgar jokes, they're being deliberately offensive or gross, saying things that make others uncomfortable. A vulgar comment might be about bodily functions, or it might be mean-spirited in a way that shows no consideration for others' feelings.

The word often describes language or behavior that's coarse and unrefined. If someone burps loudly at the dinner table on purpose and thinks it's hilarious, that's vulgar behavior. Vulgar language includes swear words and crude expressions that polite people avoid in public.

A vulgar display of wealth might mean someone showing off their money in a showy, tactless way, like constantly bragging about expensive possessions.

When you hear something described as vulgar, it usually means it crosses a line of basic courtesy and respect. Most people recognize that certain topics and language belong in some settings but not others, and vulgar behavior ignores those boundaries.