pariah
puh-RY-uh
/pəˈraɪ.ə/
An outcast; a person or group rejected, despised, and avoided by society.
Describes someone who suffers complete social rejection across all domains.
The story behind the word. Borrowed into English in the late 18th century from Tamil 'paraiyan', referring to hereditary ceremonial drummers ('parai' = drum) in Southern India who occupied a low social standing. English writers generalized the term to mean any social outcast.
Word relationships
- outcast: 'Outcast' is general, while 'pariah' carries historical roots in formal social caste exclusion.
- untouchable: 'Untouchable' stresses ritual impurity, whereas 'pariah' can apply broadly to political or social renegades.
- favorite: A 'favorite' is held in high esteem and central affection by the group.
- insider: An 'insider' is a fully accepted member of a group.
Commonly confused with
- piranha: A 'piranha' is a predatory fish; a 'pariah' is a social outcast.
Collocations
- pariah state
- social pariah
- treated as a pariah
- become a pariah
Idioms & expressions
- social outcast
Example sentences
- "The oppressive regime became an international pariah after violating international treaties." International relations
- "After exposing corruption in the ministry, the official was treated as a pariah by his former colleagues." Social commentary
Memory hook
PARIAH sounds like 'PA-REJECT' — completely rejected by everyone. The ultimate social outcast.
When not to use
Do not use for someone who is merely eccentric or temporarily unpopular.
Fun facts
- The term 'pariah state' is widely used today in international relations to describe nations that violate international laws and are shunned diplomatically.
Related words
Explore more words
Ostracism, despicable, ostracize, despise, ignominy, alienation
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.