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
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lying beyond reach
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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
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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:
The episode was a stunning rebuke for Rocha, who until now was seen as untouchable because of his close relationship with López Obrador.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
On the day that Gianni Infantino stood alongside President Trump to present the World Cup trophy to Spain, he was still one of the most untouchable figures in sports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Although Burnham's legacy as Greater Manchester mayor is not without criticism there are several aspects of his inheritance that seem untouchable.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
At his previous five World Cups, he has arrived with an untouchable status yet calls for him to take a step back and play a lesser role on the pitch are growing.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Or they were chips from imaginary skeletons; lost virgin souls; pieces of pretty, insensitive ice; their loveliness an untouchable joke.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
“There shouldn’t be some sort of untouchables list of people who are immune from enforcement.”
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
The phrase "they have never let me down" will come back to haunt England and remember, as good as he has been for England, one of his untouchables Harry Kane did.
From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2022
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 doctor was soon famous for his willingness to help the poor and the untouchables.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
