untouchable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​touch·​able ˌən-ˈtə-chə-bəl How to pronounce untouchable (audio)
1
a
: forbidden to the touch : not to be handled
b
: exempt from criticism or control
2
: lying beyond reach
3
: disagreeable or defiling to the touch

untouchable

2 of 2

noun

plural untouchables
: someone or something that is untouchable
… so Frey moved Keith Moreland from right-field to third base and benched Ron Cey temporarily, while Green threatened to trade heretofore untouchables.Peter Gammons
specifically, dated, offensive : a member of the lowest class in the traditional Hindu social hierarchy having in traditional Hindu belief the quality of defiling by contact a member of a higher caste : dalit

Examples of untouchable in a Sentence

Adjective The mayor believed that he was untouchable and not subject to the same laws as the rest of us. The team's record was untouchable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This is in contrast to someone like, say, Michael Jordan, who had immense power and wealth, was untouchable as an athlete, and mostly refused to use that power to speak out about societal injustices. Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 Trump remains untouchable in early polls but one candidate is rising ... Fox News Staff, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2023 The term 'untouchable' is often used by the Catalan and Spanish press to describe a star whose role in the first team is undisputed and who will not be sold under any circumstances. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The Meeker senior, already a two-time champion, has been untouchable this season as one of two undefeated wrestlers in Class 2A along with Trinidad senior 132-pounder Eddie Bowman. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Social media brimmed with a wide range of emotions triggered by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance, many of the comments from adults still haunted by high school memories of worshiping and/or hating the untouchable Queen and King of the prom. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 The legal debate comes amid growing concern that global sports organizations like FIFA, the global soccer governing body headquartered in Switzerland, operate in a world of their own, untouchable to the authorities. Tariq Panja, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2024 Was this part of a plan or a deal? From December 2012 until December 2018, Peterman was one of the virtually untouchable members of the California Public Utilities Commission, holding an appointive job from which she could not be fired, not even by the governor who put her there, Jerry Brown. Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2024 Thanasis Antetokounmpo's role There is a theory that Griffin didn't want Thanasis on the roster, who some think is untouchable in any deadline trade made with the Bucks. Emmett Prosser, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
Sure, but then again so was the Heat insistence that the team’s protection of its youth made Herro, Robinson and even Precious Achiuwa untouchable. Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, 30 Mar. 2021 Virus piles on the pain for India's 'untouchables' India's caste system was officially abolished in 1950, but the 2,000-year-old social system imposed on people by birth still exists in many aspects of life. Eliza MacKintosh, CNN, 16 Apr. 2020 The untouchables Lam’s continuing refusal to set up an independent inquiry has raised questions as to whether the government has ultimate authority over the police force in the wake of the territory’s return to China. Mary Hui, Quartz, 11 Dec. 2019 Apple TV+ has reportedly sunk at least $1 billion — and possibly $6 billion — into its original content, signing untouchables like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams as production heavyweights. Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2019 Two hundred million of them are Dalit, or what used to be called untouchables. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2019 The relative increase in the Muslim population that the census had established, and the uncertain status of untouchables and tribal groups as Hindus for enumeration purposes made the definition of a Hindu all the more critical. Vikram Sampath, Quartz India, 20 Aug. 2019 Many of the crimes against women and children have also been hate crimes against Dalits (untouchables) and minorities, argues Kavita Krishnan, secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association. Sam Kiley, CNN, 17 May 2018 But some of the village’s poorest residents — former untouchables — were given new connections in January after living for decades in darkness. Vidhi Doshi, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'untouchable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of untouchable was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near untouchable

Cite this Entry

“Untouchable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untouchable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

untouchable

1 of 2 adjective
un·​touch·​able ˌən-ˈtəch-ə-bəl How to pronounce untouchable (audio)
ˈən-
1
a
: not to be touched or handled
b
: not to be criticized or controlled
2
: lying beyond the reach

untouchable

2 of 2 noun
: one that is untouchable
especially : a member of the lowest social class in India

More from Merriam-Webster on untouchable

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