Dictionary

proletarianism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• prō'lĭtâʹrĭənĭzəm (Received-Pronunciation)
• prō'lĭtâʹrēənĭzəm (General-American)
• /ˌpɹəʊlɪˈtɛəɹɪənɪzəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌpɹoʊlɪˈtɛɹi.ənɪzəm/ (General-American)

Etymology

From proletarian + -ism.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The political character and practice of the proletariat; advocacy or advancement of the proletariat’s interests.
2. (uncountable, usually) The state, quality, or condition of being a proletarian.
3. (countable, usually) A proletarian word or turn of phrase; a vulgarism.
   • There is a fine dividing line between the everyday sensationalism of popular and tabloid journalism and the parodies in such publications as the British satirical magazine Private Eye, which uses proletarianisms in such headlines as The Royals, dontcha lovem! 1992, Thomas Burns McArthur, editor, The Oxford Companion to the English language, page 553:
   • The scatological proletarianisms of Don Jonz reflect poorly on your heretofore high level of editorial standards. 1973, Flying, volume 92, page 8:
   • Sadly, even the ‘genteel’ proletarianisms of Polly and his class are nowadays only normally heard among citizens over the age of fifty. In a few years that richly nuanced dialect will be as dead as Sanskrit. 2005, John Sutherland, biographical note to H. G. Wells’ The History of Mr Polly (Penguin Classics)
4. (rare, uncountable, usually) Proletarians regarded as a class; the proletariat.

Forms

Deriveds

proletarianise · proletarianising · proletarianised

Synonyms

proletairism · proletariatism · proletarism