- Today's Word
Pariah
puh-RY-uh
Definition
- (noun) A person who is rejected or ostracized by society or a particular group; an outcast.
Example
After exposing the company’s unethical practices, he became a pariah in the corporate world, shunned by colleagues who feared association with him.
Fun Fact
The word “pariah” comes from the Tamil word paraiyar, which referred to a hereditary group of drummers in southern India who were considered social outcasts under the caste system. The term entered English during British colonial rule in India and evolved into a metaphor for anyone who is marginalized or excluded. Interestingly, its adoption into English reflects the cultural intersections and linguistic exchanges of colonial history, highlighting how specific cultural practices can influence broader language usage.
(adjective) Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly coarse or irreverent way; humorously vulgar or indecent.
The ribald humor in the play had the audience howling, even as a few people in the front row pretended to be scandalized.