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Groundling: meaning, definitions and examples

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groundling

 

[ ˈɡraʊndlɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

theater

A groundling is a person who stands in the pit, or yard, of a theater during a performance. They are typically the lower-class audience members who cannot afford seats.

Synonyms

pit dweller, standing audience member, yardling

Examples of usage

  • The groundlings at the Globe Theatre were known for their rowdy behavior.
  • The groundlings cheered loudly during the play.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A groundling can also refer to a person who is unrefined, uncultured, or lacking sophistication.

Synonyms

commoner, plebeian, vulgar person

Examples of usage

  • He was considered a groundling by the upper-class society.
  • She felt out of place among the groundlings at the event.

Translations

Translations of the word "groundling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 terráqueo

🇮🇳 साधारण व्यक्ति

🇩🇪 Erdenbewohner

🇮🇩 makhluk bumi

🇺🇦 землянин

🇵🇱 ziemianin

🇯🇵 地球の住人

🇫🇷 terrien

🇪🇸 terráqueo

🇹🇷 dünyalı

🇰🇷 지구인

🇸🇦 ساكن الأرض

🇨🇿 pozemšťan

🇸🇰 pozemšťan

🇨🇳 地球居民

🇸🇮 zemljan

🇮🇸 jarðarbúi

🇰🇿 жер бетінің тұрғыны

🇬🇪 მიწის მაცხოვრებელი

🇦🇿 yer sakini

🇲🇽 terráqueo

Etymology

The term 'groundling' originated in the Elizabethan era in England, where it was used to describe the lower-class audience members who stood in the pit of the theater. It was a derogatory term at the time, implying a lack of sophistication or refinement. Over the years, the term has evolved to also refer to people who are considered uncultured or unrefined in a more general sense.

See also: background, ground, groundbreaker, groundbreakers, groundbreaking, grounded, grounding, groundless, groundlessly, grounds, groundskeeper, groundskeeping, groundsman, groundwork, underground.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,600, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.