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The bourgeoisie is the class that owns the means of production in capitalist societies. They are significant in Marxist thought as the main drivers of capitalism and the class antagonist to the proletariat. Their class interests are often seen as the root of exploitation and the class struggle.

Alienation in Marxist philosophy describes the estrangement of people from aspects of their human nature as a consequence of being in a society of stratified social classes. The concept is significant because it highlights how workers can become disenchanted with their work and with themselves through labor exploitation.

Commodity fetishism is the process by which the social relationships involved in production are expressed as values of tradeable objects. This leads to the mystification of the labor process. It is significant because it conceals the exploitation inherent in capitalist production.

False consciousness is a term used by Marxist theorists to describe how the ideology of the ruling class is imposed upon the proletariat, thereby masking the true nature of social relations and class exploitation. It is significant because overcoming false consciousness is seen as essential for the proletariat to achieve class consciousness and enact revolutionary change.

In Marxism, imperialism is referred to as the highest stage of capitalism, characterized by the export of capital rather than commodities, the formation of international monopolist capitalist associations, and the territorial division of the world among the most significant capitalist powers. It is significant in Marxist thought because it is seen as an extension of capitalist exploitation on a global scale.

Class consciousness refers to the awareness by a social class of its own position and interests within the structure of class struggle. In Marxist theory, it is significant because it is thought to be the precursor to political action and revolutionary change.

Revolutionary praxis refers to the application of Marxist theory to practice in the pursuit of societal transformation. It is significant because it moves beyond theory to action, emphasizing the importance of revolutionary activities to bring about a communist society.

Base refers to the mode of production or economic structure that determines society's organization. Superstructure includes the culture, institutions, political power structures, and roles that are built upon the economic base. This concept is significant because it frames how Marxists understand the relationship between economics and all other social dynamics.

Dialectical materialism is a philosophy of science and nature, based on the writings of Marx and Engels, that emphasizes the materialist aspects of reality in terms of class struggle and social change. It is a significant concept because it outlines the Marxist approach to observing and explaining societal development and revolutions.

Means of production are the physical, non-human inputs used for the creation of economic value, such as the tools, machinery, and facilities. They are significant in Marxism because who controls the means of production determines class divisions and is at the heart of the conflict between bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Surplus value is the difference between the value produced by labor and the actual wage paid to the laborer. It is significant in Marxist economics as it represents the profit exploited by capitalists, serving as a foundation for the theory of capitalist exploitation.

This theory posits that the value of a commodity can be objectively measured by the average number of labor hours required to produce that commodity. It's significant in Marxism for its implication that labor is the source of all value, highlighting how exploitation arises as workers receive less than the value they produce.

Historical materialism is an approach to understanding society's development through history, explaining social change through the dynamics of the mode of production. It is significant as a cornerstone of Marxist theory, framing history through the lens of material conditions and economics.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is the temporary state between the end of capitalism and the establishment of communism. In this period, the working class holds political power, suppressing the remaining resistance of the bourgeoisie. It is significant because, in Marxist thought, it is a necessary step in creating a classless, communist society.