# proletariat

/ˌpɹoʊɫəˈtɛɹiət/ (US) · /pɹəʊltˈeəɹɪˌæt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/proletariat
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the class of people in a society who do not own property or have much money. They usually work for others to earn their living.

For teachers: the social class of wage-earning workers who do not own the means of production. Often used in political or economic contexts to describe the working class.

## Examples

- The proletariat forms the largest part of the population.
- Historical theories often describe the proletariat as the group that will eventually overthrow the ruling class.
- The transition from a feudal society to a capitalist one saw the proletariat emerge as the primary force of industrial labor, fundamentally altering the social and economic landscape.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.