Pariah

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pəˈraɪə/

Origin

From Tamil பறையர்,from பறையன் (paṟaiyaṉ, "drummer"), from பறை (paṟai, "drum") or from Medieval Latin പറയർ, from പറയൻ (paṟayaṉ, "drummer"), from പറ (paṟa, "drum"). Parai in Tamil or Para in Malayalam refers to a type of large drum designed to announce the king’s notices to the public. The people who made a living using the parai were called paraiyar; in the caste-ridden society they were in the lower strata, hence the derisive paraiah and pariah. Now the term is used to describe an outcast in English.

Full definition of pariah

Noun

1. An outcast.
2. A demographic group, species, or community that is generally despised.
3. Someone in exile.
4. A member of one of the oppressed social castes in India.
5. A person who is rejected (from society or home).

Synonyms

Related terms

• pop culture pariah

Anagrams

• Pahari
• Pirahã