1. the working class or proletariat, especially as depicted in George Orwell’s novel 1984
Usage: literary; often capitalized as ‘Proles’ when referring to Orwell’s work

Examples

• In Orwell’s dystopian society, the proles made up the majority of the population.
• The Party believed the proles were too ignorant to pose a threat to their power.
• Winston observed the proles going about their daily lives in the poorer districts.
• The novel suggests that hope for revolution lies with the proles.
• Unlike Party members, the proles were largely left alone by the Thought Police.
• The proles represented about 85% of Oceania’s population in the story.