proletariat

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations 1.4.2 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• proletariate

[edit] Etymology

From French prolétariat, from Latin proletarius (“‘a man whose only wealth is his offspring, or whose sole service to the state is as father’”), from proles (“‘offspring, posterity’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

(US) enPR: 'prōlĭʹtârēət, IPA: /ˌproʊlɪˈtɛəriət/, SAMPA: %pr\oUlI"tEr\i@t

[edit] Noun

proletariat (countable and uncountable; plural proletariats)

1. The working class or lower class.
   • 1906, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party^[1], page 173:

     "Of all the classes that stand face to face with the bourgeoisie to day the proletariat alone is a really revolutionary class."

2. The wage earners collectively, excluding salaried workers.
3. (history) In ancient Rome, the lowest class of citizens, who had no property.

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• Proletariat on Wikipedia.Wikipedia