Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

plebs

/plɛbz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.62 in modern English

Syllables: plebs
IPA: /plɛbz/

9

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

noun

The plebeian class of Ancient Rome or its equivalent in other ancient societies.

Uncountable

noun

The common people, especially (derogatory) the mob.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Why I am going with my pidgeons to the tribunall Plebs."
"For 'tis an Easier Thing To make Trees Leape, and Stones selfe-burthens bring (As once Amphion to the walls of Thæbes,)"
"1993, Max Cavalera, "Refuse/Resist", Sepultura, Chaos A.D. Chaos A.D. / Tanks On The Streets / Confronting Police / Bleeding The Plebs"
"The history of Palermo was punctuated by such uprisings; when they happened, the great barons simply fled to the safety of their country villas, leaving the urban plebs free to sack their palaces in the city."
"The lesser plebs are not unscrupulous troublemakers."

Etymology

From Latin plēbs (“the plebeian class”), variant of earlier plēbēs. Later also understood as the plural of pleb.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: *pleh₁-, plebs

Usage

Uncountable

Derived Forms

plebiscite

Phrases

tribune of the plebs

Frequently Paired Words

plebeian plebe pleb

Synonyms

plebeiate canaille commonality commonalty crowd commonage demos everyone general public great unhosed great unwashed herd

Rhymes With

webs ebbs

Questions

How do you pronounce plebs?: The recorded pronunciation is /plɛbz/.
What does plebs mean?: plural of pleb
Where does plebs come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce plebs

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “plebs”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/plɛbz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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