What does intercaste mean?
Intercaste means between or involving people belonging to different caste groups. The word is especially common in India and is used when discussing relationships, marriages, education, social interaction, and discrimination that cross caste boundaries. An intercaste marriage, for example, is a marriage between people from different castes. In contemporary usage, the term often carries social and political significance because caste may determine access to social status, employment, housing, and community acceptance. It is distinct from the more general idea of interracial or interfaith relationships: intercaste specifically refers to divisions within a caste-based social system. The adjective can describe a relationship, marriage, interaction, or conflict, and it often appears in reporting on discrimination and efforts toward greater inclusion.
adjectiveBetween or involving people from different castes; not restricted to members of one caste.
- Between or involving members of different castes, especially in the context of marriage, relationships, or social interaction.
"The couple faced significant social opposition to their intercaste marriage."
"The film examines the challenges faced by an intercaste couple in a small town."
"Community leaders called for greater social inclusion across caste divisions."
Intercaste describes the social boundaries that a single word can expose: whether romance, education, or public life is separated by caste.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intercaste come from?
The word combines the Latin prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” with caste. Caste comes through Portuguese casta, originally meaning “lineage” or “race,” from Latin castus, meaning “chaste” or “pure.” The combined English term developed in the context of social systems and relationships involving different caste groups, particularly in South Asia.
How intercaste is actually used
The term is especially common in South Asian English, particularly in India. It is often associated with questions of caste discrimination, marriage, and social equality.