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Definition of pariah

pariah

/pəˈraɪ.ə/
pa · ri · ah
Plural:pariahs
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pariah Lexical Profile

pariah Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person, organization, or nation that is despised, rejected, or avoided by others; an outcast.

Example

"After the financial scandal was exposed, the former executive became a social pariah in the industry."

2

(Historical) A member of a low-status social group or caste in southern India, formerly marginalized under the traditional caste system.

Example

"Colonial-era ethnographies frequently documented the severe social restrictions imposed upon the pariahs of southern India."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary global English, 'pariah' is used figuratively to describe any social or political outcast (and frequently appears as an attributive modifier in phrases like 'pariah state'), whereas its historical use to refer to a specific marginalized caste in southern India is now considered dated and offensive.

• Rhymes for pariah

• Nearby Words

parenting
parentless
parfait
pariah
parimutuel
paring
paris

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century via Portuguese from Tamil 'paraiyar' (plural of 'paraiyan'), literally meaning 'drummer' (from 'parai', a large festival drum), as members of this hereditary social group in southern India traditionally served as ceremonial drummers.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pariah. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pariah
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