prole Definition
a member of the working class, especially one with low social status.
Using prole: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "prole" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The novel portrays the struggles of the proles in a dystopian society.
Example
He was born into a family of proles and had to work hard to improve his social status.
Example
The proles were often exploited by the wealthy elite.
Example
The factory mainly employed proles for manual labor.
prole Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using prole
a phrase associated with Marxism, meaning that resources should be distributed according to need, rather than merit or wealth
Example
The proles in the novel live in a society that follows the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.'
to provide entertainment or distractions to the working class in order to prevent them from becoming dissatisfied with their living conditions or political situation
Example
The government used propaganda and prolefeed to keep the proles happy and compliant.
a literary device in which a character's words or actions reveal a situation that is unknown to the character but known to the reader or audience
Example
The use of proleptic irony in the play created a sense of dramatic tension.
Phrases with prole
the tendency of middle-class people to adopt the cultural values and lifestyle of the working class
Example
The rise of reality TV shows is seen as an example of prole drift.
prolefeed
cultural material that is deliberately designed to appeal to the tastes of the working class, often considered to be of low quality
Example
The tabloid newspaper was criticized for its prolefeed content.
relating to or anticipating a future state or development, often used in literary criticism to describe a character's actions that anticipate their future role
Example
The character's proleptic behavior foreshadowed the tragic ending of the story.
Origins of prole
shortened form of 'proletarian', from Latin 'proletarius', meaning 'citizen of the lowest class'
Summary: prole in Brief
'Prole' [prohl] refers to a member of the working class, typically with low social status. It is often used in contrast to the elite or aristocratic classes. The term extends into phrases like 'prole drift,' describing the adoption of working-class culture by the middle class, and idioms like 'keep the proles happy,' referring to the use of entertainment to distract the working class from political issues.
