Definition

A person who stands in the cheap seats of a theater, especially in the pit area, or someone with simple tastes.

Example

The groundlings at the theater often reacted loudly to the performance.

Conversation

Did you know that the groundling section at the theater is the cheapest place to watch a play?

Yeah, it's where all the lively audience members stand, right?

Exactly! Those groundlings really bring energy to the performances.

For sure, they can be so entertaining to watch during the show.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Groundling is formed from "ground" (from Old English "grund", meaning the surface of the earth) and "-ling" (a diminutive suffix in Old English, meaning little or young). The word "groundling" originally referred to a person of low status or someone who is grounded, often used in the context of theater to describe the lower-class audience members who stood on the ground in front of the stage.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'on the ground' ('ground') and is a 'little' or 'young' person ('-ling'). This helps you remember that a groundling refers to someone of lower status, often in a theatrical context.

Visually Confused Words