(esp in Marxist theory) the amorphous urban social group below the proletariat, consisting of criminals, tramps, etc
Word origin
German, literally: ragged proletariat
lumpenproletariat in American English
(ˈlʌmpənˌproulɪˈtɛəriət)
noun
(sometimes cap.esp. in Marxist theory)
the lowest level of the proletariat comprising unskilled workers, vagrants, and criminals and characterized by a lack of class identification and solidarity
Word origin
[1920–25; ‹ G (Marx, 1850), equiv. to Lumpen rag or Lumpen-, comb. form of Lump ragamuffin + Proletariatproletariat]
Examples of 'lumpenproletariat' in a sentence
lumpenproletariat
That weasel phrase 'hard-working people' - you mean the lumpenproletariat, the rabble, don't you?