harem

[ hair-uhm, har- ]

noun

1. the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
2. the women in a Muslim household, including the mother, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants.
3. Animal Behavior. a social group of females, as elephant seals, accompanied or followed by one fertile male who denies other males access to the group.
4. Facetious: Sometimes Offensive. a group of women associated in any way with one man or household:

   I really resent it when our boss refers to us as his harem, though he's trying to be funny.

harem

/ hɑːˈriːm; hɑːˈriːm; ˈhɛərəm /

noun

1. the part of an Oriental house reserved strictly for wives, concubines, etc
2. a Muslim's wives and concubines collectively
3. a group of female animals of the same species that are the mates of a single male

Usage Note

In the meaning “a group of women associated with one man,” harem is used for humorous effect. But this sense is sometimes perceived as insulting by or to women because it implies that the man collects women like objects.

Word History and Origins

Origin of harem¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Turkish ḥarem “female quarters,” from Arabic ḥarīm “sacred or inviolable space, sanctuary; female members of a family; harem,” literally, “forbidden,” from ḥarama “to prohibit, deny”

Word History and Origins

Origin of harem¹

C17: from Arabic harīm forbidden (place)

Example Sentences

But when she opened the door, a harem of toned and dreaded hip-hop dancers were lounging on couches staring at her.

From The Daily Beast

Jillian Lauren is the author of The New York Times bestseller Some Girls: My Life in a Harem.

From The Daily Beast

Three years ago, fashion would have labeled these the new harem pant, but now that moment is over.

From The Daily Beast

Mitchell is also a fundamentalist Mormon who had his eye on the then-14-year-old Smart to be the first of a harem of wives.

From The Daily Beast

Harem pants were a well-tailored sport jacket compared to jeggings.

From The Daily Beast

A harem's a bo'd'n-house, I reck'n.  Mos' likely dey has rackety times in de nussery.

From Project Gutenberg

When she stepped past the nodding eunuchs who were standing guard at the harem entrance, she felt a little quiver.

From Project Gutenberg

I shall in time grow sleepy, fat, and in a poor way contented; for such is the manner of the harem.

From Project Gutenberg

When Iftikhar returned to El Halebah, the fire had utterly destroyed the wing of the palace containing the harem.

From Project Gutenberg

On this harem he spent a hundred million francs, or twenty million dollars.

From Project Gutenberg