lumpenproletariat

1. The lowest, most degraded stratum of the proletariat. Used originally in Marxist theory to describe those members of the proletariat, especially criminals, vagrants, and the unemployed, who lacked class consciousness.
2. The underclass of a human population.

Origin:

Origin: German

Origin: : Lumpen

Origin: , pl. of Lump, ragamuffin (from Middle High German lumpe, rag)

Origin: + Proletariat, proletariat (from French prolétariat; see proletariat)