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proletarianize

American  
[proh-li-tair-ee-uh-nahyz] / ˌproʊ lɪˈtɛər i əˌnaɪz /
especially British, proletarianise

verb (used with object)

proletarianized, proletarianizing

  1. to convert or transform into a member or members of the proletariat.

    to proletarianize the middle class.

  2. to change to or adopt (the language, manners, etc.) of the proletariat.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of proletarianize

First recorded in 1885–90; proletarian + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rather, it will proletarianize the profession by flooding the market and forcing wages down – and that’s precisely the point.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.