Pariah Meaning: What Does the Term Pariah Mean?

Last updated on September 16, 2024 by Isabella Claire

“Pariah” carries important meanings across cultural, social, and political landscapes. It usually describes someone or something shunned by their community, often seen as unreliable or undesirable. This term’s origin can be traced to Southeast India, where certain societal roles caused individuals to be viewed as outcasts.

The term’s usage has broadened to include fields like politics, religion, entertainment, and sports. In these areas, pariahs can be individuals or groups isolated due to their opinions, actions, or affiliations. This concept helps you explore the complexities of social interactions and human behavior globally.

Pariah Meaning and Origin

Key Takeaways

  • Pariah refers to an individual or entity that is generally despised, rejected, or avoided by their community.
  • The term has its origins in Southeast India and is now applied in various spheres of life, including politics, religion, entertainment, and sports.
  • Understanding the concept of a pariah can provide insight into human behavior and societal dynamics.
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Pariah Meaning

A pariah is an outcast or someone who is despised and avoided. This term is often used to refer to a person who is widely shunned for an offense they have committed. In many contexts, they may be considered as someone who is not liked, respected, or trusted, which leads to their rejection from society or specific social groups. The term “social pariah” is commonly used to describe such a person within their community.

Origin of this Term

Historically, the term pariah, or Pariah, has its origins from India, specifically the southern part. It referred to a person who belonged to a particular social group or caste that was considered one of the lowest in the hierarchy system. Nowadays, using the term in this original sense is deemed offensive and has evolved to represent a broader meaning of outcast or rejected individual.

In today’s context, “pariah” is used across various domains, including politics, where someone can become a pariah due to their beliefs, actions, or affiliations. It can also be applied to a country with a poor human rights record, leading other nations to treat it as a pariah state.

Related Terms to Pariah

  • Outcast: A person who is rejected or excluded from a social group.
  • Castaway: A person who is abandoned or rejected by their family or friends.
  • Ishmael: A symbolic person who is an outcast and/or a wanderer.
  • Exile: A person who is forced to live away from their native country, usually for political reasons.

Though each term has its nuances, they all represent individuals who have been isolated from their communities, families, or society in general. In essence, a pariah is someone on the fringes, not accepted or embraced by their social environment.

Other Ways to Say the Term

  • Outcast
  • Exile
  • Black sheep
  • Reject
  • Persona non grata
  • Outsider
  • Leper (metaphorical use)
  • Untouchable
  • Shunned person
  • Castaway

“Pariah” Examples

Sentence Examples

  • After the scandal, he became a social pariah, avoided by everyone in his community.
  • Despite her efforts to fit in, she was treated like a pariah by her classmates.
  • The former CEO was considered a pariah in the business world after the company’s collapse.
  • She felt like a pariah in her own family after voicing her controversial opinions.
  • In many traditional societies, those who break certain taboos can be labeled as pariahs.
  • His radical ideas made him a pariah among his conservative colleagues.
  • The new policy turned the once-respected leader into a pariah within the organization.
  • She was treated as a pariah for years until people began to realize the truth of her claims.

Conversation Examples

Example 1: At the Workplace

  • Colleague 1: Have you noticed how John’s been acting lately?
  • Colleague 2: Yeah, ever since the project failed, he’s been treated like a pariah by the team.
  • Colleague 1: It’s unfortunate. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

Example 2: Among Friends

  • Friend 1: I feel like a total pariah at the new club. No one talks to me.
  • Friend 2: Really? Maybe they just need to get to know you better.
  • Friend 1: I hope so. I just hate feeling like an outsider.

Example 3: In a Family Discussion

  • Sibling 1: Why is Uncle Joe never invited to family gatherings?
  • Sibling 2: After what happened years ago, he’s kind of been made the family pariah.
  • Sibling 1: That’s harsh. People should be willing to forgive.
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