pariah
/pəˈraɪ.ə/
Definition
An individual or group that is widely avoided, rejected, or treated as a social outcast by the mainstream.
Etymology
Derived from the Tamil word 'paraiyar,' which refers to a specific social caste in southern India. The term entered English in the 17th century through Portuguese, eventually evolving to mean any person who is socially cast out or despised.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe early US Forest Service staff who were initially shunned by local communities because they enforced unpopular regulations against illegal logging and grazing. Their status shifted from outcasts to heroes only after they demonstrated their value in fighting catastrophic wildfires.
Megafires, Land Use, and Climate Change
Read the full article ↗The Equation - Union of Concerned Scientists