Lumpenproletariat Definition

lŭmpən-prōlĭ-târē-ət, lo͝om-
noun
The lowest stratum of the proletariat. Used originally in Marxist theory to describe those members of the proletariat, especially criminals, vagrants, and the unemployed, who lacked awareness of their collective interest as an oppressed class.
American Heritage
An underclass.
American Heritage

(Marxism) The lowest stratum of the proletariat.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Lumpenproletariat

Noun

Singular:
lumpenproletariat
Plural:
lumpenproletariats

Origin of Lumpenproletariat

  • German Lumpen pl. of Lump ragamuffin (from Middle High German lumpe rag) Proletariat proletariat (from French prolétariat proletariat)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Borrowed from German Lumpenproletariat, which is Lumpen (“rag") + French prolétariat, from Latin proletarius, the lowest class of Roman citizen.

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to lumpenproletariat using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

lumpenproletariat

Word Length

Words Near Lumpenproletariat in the Dictionary