I. və(r)-ˈna-kyə-lər adjective
Etymology: Latin vernaculus native, from verna slave born in the master's house, native
Date: 1601
1.
a. : using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
b. : of, relating to, or being a nonstandard language or dialect of a place, region, or country
c. : of, relating to, or being the normal spoken form of a language
2. : applied to a plant or animal in the common native speech as distinguished from the Latin nomenclature of scientific classification
the vernacular name
3. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a period, place, or group ; especially : of, relating to, or being the common building style of a period or place
vernacular architecture
• ver·nac·u·lar·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1661
1. : a vernacular language, expression, or mode of expression
2. : the mode of expression of a group or class
3. : a vernacular name of a plant or animal