Pariah
/pəˈraɪə/
nounC2
Definition
A pariah is someone who is not accepted by a group or society. People may avoid or ignore a pariah because they think that person is different, bad, or not following the group's rules. This word often describes someone who feels lonely or left out.
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See It in Action
A person rejected by society or a group
- •After the scandal, he became a pariah in his community.
- •She felt like a pariah at school because no one talked to her.
- •The politician was treated as a pariah after the corruption news.
Someone avoided because of their actions or identity
- •The worker was a pariah after breaking the company's rules.
- •In some cultures, certain people are considered pariahs because of their background.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "pariah" like "outsider" (an easier word), but much stronger—someone others do not want to be near at all.
- ✓Picture a person standing alone outside a group of friends who are all talking and laughing without them.
- ✓It's the feeling of being left out or pushed away, like when you are not invited to a party.
- ✓Sounds like "puh-RYE-uh" → imagine someone saying "Bye" to that person because they do not want them close.
- ✓In stories, a pariah is like the character who is blamed for problems and treated badly by everyone else.
- ✓NOT like "friend" (accepted and liked), a pariah is someone rejected and avoided.
- ✓NOT like "stranger" (unknown person), a pariah is known but still rejected.
- ✓NOT like "loner" (someone who chooses to be alone), a pariah is forced to be alone by others.
Try Other Words
- •Outcast: a person rejected or not accepted by others (Use when the rejection is less formal or less strong)
- •Exile: a person forced to live away from their home or group (Use when someone is removed or forced to leave)
- •Reject: a person not accepted by a group (Use in informal or general contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, the word is borrowed whole)
- •Etymology: From Tamil "paraiyar," meaning a member of a low caste or social outcast in India
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 17th century through colonial contact, originally describing a social outcast or untouchable
- •Modern usage: Used broadly to describe anyone rejected or avoided by society or a group, often for negative reasons
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone become a pariah by accident, or does it always require a specific action or reason?
•How does being a pariah affect a person's feelings and behavior in society?
Fill in the blanks
1.After his mistake, he became a pariah ___ his friends and coworkers because they no longer trusted him.
2.A pariah often feels ___ and lonely because others avoid them.
3.Unlike a stranger, a pariah is someone people ___ know but still reject.
4.The term pariah is used when someone is not just left out but actively ___ by others.
5.In many stories, the pariah is the character who is blamed and ___ by the group.
6.People can become pariahs because of their actions, beliefs, or even their ___.
7.When a community treats someone as a pariah, it usually means they ___ the person strongly.