Paria

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A person who is rejected or despised by society; an outcast marginalized or excluded from a community; one who is socially shunned or treated as inferior
  2. An individual regarded with contempt or disdain, often barred from social acceptance; someone living outside the accepted norms or groups; a figure of social rejection
  3. Someone excluded from mainstream society and treated as an outsider; a social pariah avoided due to stigma or prejudice; a person cast out or alienated from the collective group

Etymology: The term "paria" is a variant spelling of "pariah," which entered English in the late 17th century. It originally referred to members of a low caste in southern India, particularly among Tamil communities. The word was borrowed from the Tamil "paraiyar," denoting a group traditionally considered outside the Hindu caste hierarchy and often assigned occupations regarded as menial or impure. European traders and colonial administrators encountered this social structure in the 1600s and brought the term back to Europe, where it was adapted into English as "pariah." The word retained its original sense of an outcast or social exile, but it eventually broadened to mean any person who is rejected or despised by society at large, irrespective of caste or cultural background. The root "parai" in Tamil refers to a type of drum, and "paraiyar" originally meant "drummers," as this caste was historically associated with drumming and other duties considered low status. This connection illustrates how occupational roles could become markers of social stratification, a pattern seen in many cultures. Over time, the term shed its specific caste connotations in English and became a general metaphor for someone ostracized or shunned. Its journey from a regional caste label to a universal symbol of exclusion reflects the complex interplay between language, culture, and social hierarchy.

Synonyms: pariah, outcast, exile, untouchable, reject

Antonyms: insider, member, elite, favorite, accepted