Meaning & use
proletariat
Last updated
the class of workers, especially industrial laborers, who own no property and earn their living by selling their labor
See it in a sentence
Marx argued that the proletariat would eventually rise up against the ruling class.
The novel depicts the harsh living conditions of the urban proletariat.
A note on using this word
A key term in Marxist theory, usually contrasted with the 'bourgeoisie,' the property-owning class.
Words with a similar meaning
working class
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
bourgeoisie
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “proletariat”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.