Proletariat
noun /ˌprəʊ.lɪˈteə.ri.ɪt/ — The working class; those who must sell their labour to survive.
Definition
Working-class people regarded collectively, especially those who must sell their labour to survive. In Marxist theory, the proletariat are the class that does not own the means of production and therefore must work for those who do.
Beyond the definition
The proletariat is a category that contains most of human history, most of human experience, and most of human ingenuity. To dismiss it as a class is to miss the majority of everything that has ever been done.
Origin & history
Latin: 'proletarius' (citizen of the lowest class). From 'proles' (offspring) — the poorest citizens, who could contribute to Rome only by producing children. Marx reclaimed the term in the 19th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Marx believed the proletariat would eventually recognise their collective power and act accordingly.
The movement drew its strength from the industrial proletariat — people who had nothing to lose by organising.
Digital work has blurred the line between proletariat and creative class in ways Marx didn't anticipate.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Proletariat” when the meaning fits your context: Working-class people regarded collectively, especially those who must sell their labour to survive. In Marxist theory, the proletariat are the class that does not own the means of production and therefore must work for those who do.
Synonyms
working class, labourers, workers
Antonyms
bourgeoisie, aristocracy, capitalist class
Related words
Proletariat vs working class
Proletariat is a Marxist term specifically for the class of wage-earners. Working class is a broader economic term that describes anyone who performs manual or industrial labor.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Chef Preparing Vegetables
A chef is at a prep station, using precise movements to julienne vegetables for a dish.
The labor of the chef, working to produce something for the owner of the kitchen or the guests, highlights the working-class contribution, representing those who must sell their labor to survive.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Proletariat" mean?
Proletariat is noun meaning: The working class; those who must sell their labour to survive.. Working-class people regarded collectively, especially those who must sell their labour to survive. In Marxist theory, the proletariat are the class that does not own the means of production and therefore must work for those who do.
Where does the word "Proletariat" come from?
Latin: 'proletarius' (citizen of the lowest class). From 'proles' (offspring) — the poorest citizens, who could contribute to Rome only by producing children. Marx reclaimed the term in the 19th century.