Groundling: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a person with limited knowledge or perspective, often a spectator in a theater. This word can have a slightly negative tone.

• In Shakespeare's plays, the groundlings would stand in the pit and watch the performance

Refers specifically to someone standing in the pit area of a theater, typically associated with cheaper tickets and less comfort.

• As a pit dweller, he had to stand for hours to enjoy the play

An old-fashioned term that refers to a theatergoer standing in the yard or pit area. It carries historical significance.

• In the Globe Theatre, yardlings would gather to watch Shakespeare's plays

A neutral term to describe someone who watches a performance while standing, often in a concert or theater with limited seating.

• Many standing audience members cheered loudly during the concert

Used to describe someone of low status or ordinary taste, often in a historical or theatrical context.

• In Shakespeare's time, groundlings stood in the open yard of the Globe Theatre

Refers to an ordinary person without any noble rank or title, often used in a historical or societal context.

• Unlike the aristocracy, a commoner would have no privileges or land

Describes someone from the lower classes in ancient Rome or, more generally, a person or thing considered coarse or uncultured. It can also have a negative connotation when used to describe contemporary social classes.

• In ancient Rome, plebeians had to struggle for political rights
• He dismissed her taste in films as plebeian

Used to describe someone who is crude, lacks sophistication, and often behaves in an offensive manner. It clearly has a negative connotation.

• She considered him a vulgar person for his loud and inappropriate jokes