noun
harem
HAH-ruhm
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.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
harems plural
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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.