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lumpenproletariat

Syllabification: (lum·pen·pro·le·tar·i·at)
Pronunciation: /ˈləmpənˌprōləˈte(ə)rēət, ˈlo͝om-/
Definition of lumpenproletariat

noun

  • (especially in Marxist terminology) the unorganized and unpolitical lower orders of society who are not interested in revolutionary advancement.

Origin:

early 20th century: from German (a term originally used by Karl Marx), from Lumpen 'rag, rogue' + proletariat

lumpenproletariat in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lumpenproletariat in the British & World English dictionary

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