Did you know that 'proletariat' is actually French?

'Proletariat' is a word borrowed from French 'proletariat'. The word entered the English language some time around 1847.

proletariat [noun] [1847]

• the laboring class
• the class of industrial workers who lack their own means of production and hence sell their labor to live
• the lowest social or economic class of a community

Meaning: the laboring class; the class of industrial workers who lack their own means of production and hence sell their labor to live; the lowest social or economic class of a community.

Etymology: French proletariat; from Latin proletarius.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From French to Latin to English.

note: Meaning: The laboring class of industrial workers. Etymology: Borrowed from French proletariat from Latin proletarius.

See 'proletariat' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

See more loan words from 1800s.