noun
common people; the masses; worldly customs
A somewhat literary or formal term referring to ordinary people or the prevailing customs of society. Often carries a nuance of contrast with refined or elite circles.
彼の作品は俗流に迎合しない独自の美意識を持っている。
His works have a unique aesthetic that does not cater to popular taste.
俗流の考えに流されず、自分の信念を貫いた。
He stuck to his convictions without being swayed by common thinking.
Compound of 俗 (vulgar, common) and 流 (current, style). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used in literary contexts to denote the common or unrefined stream of society.