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prolétariat

proletariat, working class

noun proh-leh-tah-RYAH Rare
People & Society Politics

Origin: Latin proletarius (citizen of the lowest class)

Usage Note

Prolétariat is a collective noun designating the class of wage-labourers who own no means of production — central to Marxist theory. In French political discourse it remains in active use on the left; la dictature du prolétariat is the classical Marxist phrase. The adjective is prolétarien/prolétarienne, and the individual member is un prolétaire.

Examples

"Marx analysait les conditions du prolétariat."

Natural Translation

Marx analysed the conditions of the proletariat.

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