Dalit

American  

[dah-lit] / ˈdɑˌlɪt /

Sometimes dalit

noun

Sometimes Offensive.

• Dalits,
  plural
• Dalit
  plural

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.

---

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

---

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Dalit
  plural
• Dalits
  plural

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

See Examples For:

Dalit Dalits

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

From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026

It is gorgeously shot in India's rural North, capturing simple joys and the daily struggles of its Muslim and Dalit protagonists.

From BBC ● May 22, 2025

Her children refused to accept that PK Rosy, the Dalit actor, was their mother, Rosy's nephew Mr Govindan says.

From BBC ● May 17, 2025

While her acting skills earned admiration, it was rare for a Dalit woman to take up acting at the time.

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

At independence, India adopted a modest 12.5% quota for the “scheduled castes,” or Dalits, widely acknowledged as the most-disadvantaged victims of caste discrimination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Other South Asian groups have applauded the move, particularly those representing groups at the bottom of caste hierarchies such as the Dalits.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2023

State Department raised concerns over treatment of Muslims, Hindu Dalits, Christians and other religious minorities in India while also criticizing a crackdown on journalists and dissidents.

From Reuters ● Jun. 23, 2023

Mr Bajpai says "the state has the responsibility to deliver timely justice especially to people like Premvati as they are Dalits who are among the most marginalised people" in the country.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2023

In Punjab, Chumber said each village has gurdwaras led by dominant-caste members and those run by Dalits.

From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2023