untouchable
Americanadjective
-
that may not be touched; of a nature such that it cannot be touched; not palpable; intangible.
-
too distant to be touched.
-
vile or loathsome to the touch.
-
beyond criticism, control, or suspicion.
Modern writers consider no subject untouchable.
noun
-
untouchables
plural
-
Hinduism. the former name given to a member of the lowest castes in India whose touch was believed to defile a high-caste Hindu.
-
a person who is beyond reproach as to honesty, diligence, etc.
-
a person disregarded or shunned by society or a particular group; social outcast.
political untouchables.
-
a person or thing considered inviolable or beyond criticism.
such untouchables as Social Security in the federal budget.
adjective
-
lying beyond reach
-
above reproach, suspicion, or impeachment
-
unable to be touched
noun
Usage
In relation to the caste system, the term untouchable is banned in both the Indian and Pakistani constitutions
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of untouchable
Vocabulary lists containing untouchable
Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
World Religions
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
South Asia - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In addition, the club also has a group of players it considers "untouchable", meaning they are not for sale - but Fofana does not feature on that list.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
For nearly 70 years, Just Fontaine’s tally of 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup was considered untouchable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Now the World Cup's record goalscorer and, as he celebrates his 39th birthday, still seemingly untouchable.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
To make matters worse, some 90% of government spending goes to sectors considered untouchable, like the military or pensions, says Paul Dmitriev, an emerging markets portfolio manager at Global X ETFs.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
This is the problem with being so beautiful—it can render you untouchable.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
“There shouldn’t be some sort of untouchables list of people who are immune from enforcement.”
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
In the end, history will remember Diana in broad strokes: a beautiful princess, a lonely marriage, a champion of the hurt and disenfranchised, a woman who touched the untouchables.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2022
They belong to the Dalit community, formerly known as untouchables, on the lowest rungs of the Hindu caste system, but Sunar said the family faced no ill-treatment over this.
From Reuters ● Aug. 17, 2022
The young woman and her family are Dalits - men and women formerly known as "untouchables" who languish at the bottom of India's harsh caste hierarchy.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2021
But also they were outlaws, enemies, untouchables, doomed with absolute certainty to extinction within a year or two.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
