plebeians
Ancient Rome's commoners
Plebeians were the common citizens of ancient Rome, as distinguished from the patricians, who were the aristocratic ruling class.
The term now applies more broadly to ordinary people, especially when contrasted with those of higher social standing or refined tastes.
It often carries a slightly dismissive tone when used by or about those who consider themselves superior: The restaurant's exclusive clientele looked down on plebeians who couldn't afford the tasting menu.
The singular plebeian works as both noun and adjective.
Rural working class
- massesBulk or populace
- common folkOrdinary members of society
- rabbleDisorderly, noisy crowd
- hoi polloiThe common masses
rank and file · ordinary people · working class · lower orders · townsfolk · villagers · rustics · laypeople
Hereditary ruling class
- tribunesRoman plebeian representatives
- senateLegislative governing body
- republicState with elected leaders
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
Twelve Tables · consuls · magistrates · optimates · populares · forum · assemblies · citizenship
Lowest socioeconomic group
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- disenfranchisedDeprived of voting rights
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
powerless · voiceless · subaltern · dispossessed · exploited · oppressed · have-nots · proletariat
Disorderly, aggressive crowd
- rabbleDisorderly, noisy crowd
- riffraffDisreputable or undesirable people
- unwashed massesCommon people, derogatorily
- lowbornOf humble origin
vulgar · uncultured · unsophisticated · philistines · herd · great unwashed · base · ignoble
peasantry
Rural working class
- massesBulk or populace
- common folkOrdinary members of society
- rabbleDisorderly, noisy crowd
hoi polloi · rank and file · ordinary people · working class · lower orders · townsfolk · villagers · rustics · laypeople · multitude
patricians
Hereditary ruling class
- tribunesRoman plebeian representatives
- senateLegislative governing body
- republicState with elected leaders
plebiscite · Twelve Tables · consuls · magistrates · optimates · populares · forum · assemblies · citizenship · land reform
underclass
Lowest socioeconomic group
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- disenfranchisedDeprived of voting rights
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
disadvantaged · powerless · voiceless · subaltern · dispossessed · exploited · oppressed · have-nots · proletariat · laborers
mob
Disorderly, aggressive crowd
- rabbleDisorderly, noisy crowd
- riffraffDisreputable or undesirable people
- unwashed massesCommon people, derogatorily
lowborn · vulgar · uncultured · unsophisticated · philistines · herd · great unwashed · base · ignoble · low-class
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators
- Ancient RomansJulius Caesar, patricians, consuls, Marcus Aurelius, Nero
- social classesupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, nobles
- Roman studiesAugustus, Caesar, Cicero, emperors, consuls
- ancient politicsAthenian democracy, polis, senate, archon, direct democracy
- ancient populationscitizens, slaves, freedmen, nobles, peasants
plebeianspatricians
Hereditary ruling class
patrician class · nobility · aristocrats · aristocracy · nobles