downtrodden

Downtrodden is an adjective used to describe people or groups who are oppressed, exploited, or treated unfairly by those in power. The term emphasizes power imbalances and the lack of relief from mistreatment.

Etymology: combination of down and trodden (past participle of tread). Literally "tread upon," it has long been used metaphorically to describe social or political oppression.

Usage and contexts: In historical contexts, "the downtrodden" has been used to refer to peasants under feudal systems, enslaved people, colonial subjects, and workers facing harsh conditions. In modern discourse, it appears in discussions of civil rights, labor rights, and social justice, often in rhetoric calling for reform.

In literature and rhetoric: The term is common in speeches, essays, and novels to foreground injustice and to mobilize support for change, while remaining a neutral descriptive term rather than a technical one.

See also: oppression, marginalization, subjugation, social justice, human rights.