proletary

[ proh-li-ter-ee ]

adjective

, plural pro·le·tar·ies.

1. proletarian.

Word History and Origins

Origin of proletary¹

1570–80; < Latin prōlētārius belonging to the lowest class of Roman citizens, i.e., those who contributed to the state only through their offspring, equivalent to prōlēt- (akin to prōlēs offspring; pro- pro- ¹ + -olēs ( adult )) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Another had seen the waters carry away his pig or his cow, treasures of the proletary of the fields; again, there were those who had lost the only bed upon which the family slept; in fact, almost all had to deplore the sand-banks strewn over the little field from which they lived and paid the rent of the farm.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not forget that you have a proletary for a father.

From Project Gutenberg

But to live with his wife like a proletary, in St. Petersburg, among her brilliant relations and friends, he could not bring himself to do.

From Project Gutenberg

England has a proletary population, the lowest in Europe; we have three million of proletaries lower than the "pauper laborers" of England, which the whig protectionists hold up to us in terror.

From Project Gutenberg

Whether proletary or not, there was nothing about him to offend the taste of the best-born of ladies.

From Project Gutenberg