noun
Uncommon
harem
HAH-ruhm
Harem (noun) means Historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family, off-limits to men outside the family. Example: “The palace harem housed the sultan's wives and female relatives.”
noun
1
Historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family, off-limits to men outside the family.
"The palace harem housed the sultan's wives and female relatives."
2
A group of a man's wives, girlfriends, or female companions collectively.
"Tabloids joked about the celebrity's so-called harem of admirers."
3
A group of female animals that mate with and are controlled by a single dominant male.
"A dominant bull elephant seal will guard a large harem of females on the beach."
How to use harem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally the women's quarters of a household; now also used loosely for a group of female partners or a male animal's group of mates.
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Word forms
- Plural
- harems
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The palace _____ housed the sultan's wives and female relatives.
Etymology
Borrowed via Ottoman Turkish from Arabic ḥaram, meaning something forbidden or a sanctuary, related to the word haram.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “harem” mean?
The word “harem” means historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family, off-limits to men outside the family. In plain terms, originally the women's quarters of a household; now also used loosely for a group of female partners or a male animal's group of mates.
How do you pronounce “harem”?
“Harem” is pronounced HAH-ruhm (/ˈhæɹəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “harem” in a sentence?
Here is “harem” used in a sentence: “The palace harem housed the sultan's wives and female relatives.”
What part of speech is “harem”?
“Harem” is a noun.
Where does the word “harem” come from?
The word “harem” comes from Arabic. Borrowed via Ottoman Turkish from Arabic ḥaram, meaning something forbidden or a sanctuary, related to the word haram.
Is “harem” a common word?
“Harem” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “harem” have?
“Harem” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family, off-limits to men outside the family.
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