Added 19 October 2026
harem
/ˈhɑːɹəm/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about harem at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
- A group of someone's girlfriends, wives and/or concubines in a polygamous household.
- A group of female animals (cows) herded and controlled by a male animal (bull) of that species for breeding purposes. Such behaviour is exhibited by bovids including cattle and buffalo as well as moose, elephants, seals (including elephant seals), sea lions, and baboons.
Origin
Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish حرم (harem) (whence Turkish harem), from Arabic حَرَم (ḥaram, “something prohibited; sanctuary, women”); and later also from حَرِيم (ḥarīm) with same meaning, both from حَرُمَ (ḥaruma, “be forbidden or unlawful”). Doublet of haram and herem.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)