untouchability

[uhn-tuhch-uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

Hinduism.

1. the quality or condition of being an untouchable, ascribed in the Vedic tradition to persons of low caste or to persons excluded from the caste system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of untouchability¹

First recorded in 1920–25; untouch(able) + -ability

Example Sentences

Her tendency to brush through political controversies gave her an air of untouchability, with some dubbing her "Teflon Ang".

Read more on BBC

"Bringing it up in a team meeting was indicative of the power and untouchability that he felt," observed South African journalist Neil Manthorp.

Read more on BBC

In the cold light of day, though, when her vulnerabilities bump up against his reset untouchability — Ortega gets a great line, “You don’t look worried, you look scared” — this impulsive star/fan connection takes a violent turn.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Through her focus on the multifaceted experiences of Dalit women, Paik elucidates the enduring nature of caste discrimination and the forces that perpetuate untouchability and marginality," the Foundation said while announcing this year’s nominees.

Read more on BBC

As the Washington Post’s Philip Bump shows today, citing new polling from Fox News, the public actually supports a big rethink of Supreme Court structural untouchability.

Read more on Slate