Pariah - Definition and Overview

The Pariah or Pariar people are a large tribal group in India; they are members of the Dalit or formerly "untouchable" class of southern India's Tamil Nadu state.

The term "pariah" has gained widespread use as an analogy, especially in the phrase "social pariah", as a term for anyone excluded from society, such as the homeless, or a social group. This use is sometimes considered to be offensive.

Pariah dogs originally referred to the feral population of dogs in this area, but has come to refer to any population of feral dogs who live around human villages, scavenging for food and seldom interacting directly with humans.

See also

• Pariah - from Crisis on Infinite Earths

Example Usage of Pariah