Prole
Meaning
A prole is a member of the working class, often used in a derogatory sense, particularly when implying a lack of education, refinement, or political awareness.
Origin
The word "prole" is a clipped form of "proletarian," a term whose roots stretch back to ancient Rome. There, the proletarii were the lowest class of citizens, possessing little to no property. Their sole contribution to the state was considered their proles—their offspring. They were literally defined by their children. Though the term faded, it was dramatically revived in the 19th century by Karl Marx to describe the industrial working class. However, it was George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four in the 20th century that truly popularized "prole" as a derogatory shorthand for the uneducated, easily manipulated masses, solidifying its modern, often disdainful, connotation.
Examples
- The novelist depicted the characters as typical proles, more concerned with their daily grind than with lofty intellectual pursuits.
- He dismissed the entire neighborhood as a collection of proles, reinforcing his own sense of superiority.