untouchable

(un tuc̸hə bəl)

adjective

that cannot or should not be touched

noun

  1. an untouchable person or thing
  2. in India, any member of the lowest castes, whose touch was regarded as defiling to higher-caste Hindus: discrimination against these people (now called Scheduled Castes) was officially abolished in 1955

Related Forms:

See untouchable in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Not to be touched.
  2. Out of reach; unobtainable.
  3. Being beyond the reach of criticism, impeachment, or attack.
  4. Loathsome or unpleasant to the touch.
noun often Untouchable
A member of the class that is excluded from and considered unclean and defiling by the four Hindu castes.

Related Forms:

  • un·touchˌa·bilˈi·ty noun
  • un·touchˈa·bly adverb

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