pro·le·tar·i·an I. \|prōlə|terēən, -ta(a)r-, -tār-\noun (-s) Etymology: Latin proletarius proletarian (from proles offspring, progeny, from pro- forth + root of -olescere to grow) + English -an — more at pro-, adult : a member of the proletariat II. adjective Etymology:proletarian (I) : of, relating to, or representative of the proletariat < proletarian policy > < proletarian party > < proletarian literature > < proletarian background > — opposed to proprietarian