proletarian
noun
pro·le·tar·i·an
ˌprō-lə-ˈter-ē-ən 
: a member of the proletariat
proletarian
adjective
Examples of proletarian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later in the novel, Hans’s mind turns to the brutality of occupation: If in the course of a five-day plan, 200,000 Berliners were removed by 50,000, these 50,000 proletarians would be fused into a collective by the shock of having killed.
—
Rumaan Alam, The New Republic, 21 June 2023
As a proudly class-conscious proletarian, Martin is naturally supportive of worker strikes.
—J. Hoberman, The New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2020
Yet modern liberalism fits the modern world of high human capital better than the old rightish model of dim-witted peasants properly led by the aristocracy or the old leftish model of gormless proletarians properly led by The Party.
—The Economist, 8 Jan. 2020
Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labour, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman.
—Tristram Hunt, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.
—Erik Kirschbaum, latimes.com, 3 May 2018
Unlike the proletarians whom Karl Marx exhorted to shed their chains, most people have rather a lot to lose.
—Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 16 Mar. 2017
What if a roving band of mutant proletarians suddenly shows up at the front door?
—John Carl Baker, New Republic, 14 July 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rumaan Alam, The New Republic, 21 June 2023
As a proudly class-conscious proletarian, Martin is naturally supportive of worker strikes.
—J. Hoberman, The New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2020
Yet modern liberalism fits the modern world of high human capital better than the old rightish model of dim-witted peasants properly led by the aristocracy or the old leftish model of gormless proletarians properly led by The Party.
—The Economist, 8 Jan. 2020
Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labour, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman.
—Tristram Hunt, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.
—Erik Kirschbaum, latimes.com, 3 May 2018
Unlike the proletarians whom Karl Marx exhorted to shed their chains, most people have rather a lot to lose.
—Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 16 Mar. 2017
What if a roving band of mutant proletarians suddenly shows up at the front door?
—John Carl Baker, New Republic, 14 July 2017
Dictionary Entries Near proletarian
Cite this Entry
“Proletarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proletarian. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proletarian
noun
pro·le·tar·i·an
ˌprō-lə-ˈter-ē-ən
: a member of the proletariat
proletarian
adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share