untouchable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​touch·​able ˌən-ˈtə-chə-bəl 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• inaccessible
• inapproachable
• inconvenient
• unapproachable
• unattainable
• unavailable
• unobtainable
• unreachable

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

Having an untouchable judiciary is the opposite of what democracies demand. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

As Marie, Bassett is a glamorous, untouchable, intriguing presence who has the capacity for both great cruelty and great compassion. —Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Oct. 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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1909, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

untouchable

1 of 2 adjective

un·​touch·​able ˌən-ˈtəch-ə-bəl 

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