concubine

[ kong-kyuh-bahyn, kon- ]

noun

1. a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not legally married, especially one regarded as socially or sexually subservient; mistress.
2. (among polygamous peoples) a secondary wife, usually of inferior rank.
3. (especially formerly in Muslim societies) a woman residing in a harem and kept, as by a sultan, for sexual purposes.

concubine

/ ˈkɒn-; ˈkɒŋkjʊˌbaɪn; kɒŋˈkjʊbɪnərɪ /

noun

1. (in polygamous societies) a secondary wife, usually of lower social rank
2. a woman who cohabits with a man

Derived Forms

• concubinary, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of concubine¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin concubīna, equivalent to concub- (variant stem of concumbere “to lie together”; con-, incumbent ) + -īna, feminine suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of concubine¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin concubīna, from concumbere to lie together, from cubare to lie

Example Sentences

His war council, and his concubine pit, consists of a crew of mannequins.

From Salon

In its aftermath, the country is ruled by the Order of wealthy white men, with only “nonrestricted” Louisiana as an escape valve for those who can make it there, and 20-year-old Black Texan Solenne has been the concubine of a possible future president for five years.

From Seattle Times

Wayles remarried twice, and following the death of his third wife in 1761, Betty Hemings—now in her twenties—became Wayles’s “concubine.”

From Literature

The defense attorney described Bravo in his opening arguments as a “gigolo” who had essentially turned Rachel into a concubine.

From Los Angeles Times

Gong, who rose to fame as the star of lush Chinese movies such as 1988's "Red Sorghum" and "Farewell my Concubine" in 1993, before earning wider recognition in Hollywood films such as 2005's "Memoirs of a Geisha", was back on the Cannes Film Festival's red carpet this week after being on pandemic lockdown for the last three years.

From Reuters

Related Words

• mistress