Dalit

American  

[dah-lit] / ˈdɑˌlɪt /

Sometimes dalit

noun

Sometimes Offensive.

plural

Dalits,

plural

Dalit

1. a member of the Scheduled Castes in India, sometimes also considered to include a member of the Scheduled Tribes.

2. a member of any of India’s oppressed peoples.

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Dalit British  

/ ˈdɑːlɪt /

noun

1. Formerly called: untouchable.  offensive a member of the lowest class in India, whom those of the four main castes were formerly forbidden to touch

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Usage

The term Dalit, which has replaced untouchable, can have negative connotations: its literal meaning is “oppressed; broken.” The Indian courts and government instead use the terms Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. But Dalit is used in the media and has been adopted by politically active group members as a positive term of self-reference. It generally represents a sense of solidarity and identity and holds political significance for members of this community.

Etymology

Origin of Dalit

First recorded in 1945–50; from Hindi dalit, from Neo-Sanskrit dalita, specific use of Sanskrit dalita “broken,” from root dal- “to break, burst, split”

Example Sentences

Kabir Maan, an educator and trans man from India's marginalised Dalit community, voiced similar concerns.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

The girl is from the Dalit community, which is at the bottom of the Hindu caste hierarchy.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2025

Influential Tamil director Pa Ranjith has launched a yearly film festival in her name which celebrates Dalit cinema.

From BBC • May 17, 2025

A modern historian who studies the lives of Dalit women through the lens of caste, gender and sexuality, Paik grew up in India but has been working in the US for 20 years.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2024

In 2021, the court had allowed a Dalit student to join IIT Bombay after he also couldn't pay his admission fee on time due to financial and technical difficulties.

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2024