Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
proletariat
noun
/ˌprōləˈterēˌat/
Definition
The term proletariat refers to the working class people in society, particularly those who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive.
Examples
- The proletariat rose up to demand better working conditions and fair wages.
- In Marxist theory, the proletariat is seen as the class that will eventually overthrow capitalism.
- The struggles of the proletariat are central to many labor movements around the world.
Meaning
In a broader sense, it often represents the collective group of wage earners who are marginalized in a capitalist economy.
Synonyms
- working class
- labor class
- wage earners
