proletarianize

verb

pro·​le·​tar·​i·​an·​ize ˌprō-lə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌnīz How to pronounce proletarianize (audio)
proletarianized; proletarianizing

transitive verb

: to reduce to a proletarian status or level
proletarianization
ˌprō-lə-ˌter-ē-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce proletarianize (audio)
noun

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proletarianize was in 1887

Rhymes for proletarianize

See All Rhymes for proletarianize

Browse Nearby Words

proletarianism
proletarianize
proletarianly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proletarianize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proletarianize. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
tarsier
Quiz: Guess the Mammal No animals were harmed, or stumped, in the making...
See All