# proletarian

/ˌpɹoʊɫəˈtɛɹiən/ (US) · /pɹəʊltˈeəɹiən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/proletarian
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

a person who works for a living and does not own the tools or factories they use. This word is often used in political or economic discussions about the working class.

For teachers: a member of the working class who does not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive. Often used in Marxist contexts to describe the social group that produces goods for a capitalist system.

## Examples

- In the late nineteenth century, the proletarian was seen as the key force for social change in industrial societies.
- The philosopher argued that the proletarian, by virtue of their position in the production chain, would eventually recognize their collective power and overthrow the capitalist class.

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