begum

¹ American  

[bee-guhm, bey-] / ˈbi gəm, ˈbeɪ- /

noun

1. (in India) a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially a widow.

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begum ² American  

[bih-guhm] / bɪˈgʌm /

verb (used with object)

begummed, begumming

1. to smear, soil, clog, etc., with or as if with gum or a gummy substance.

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begum British  

/ ˈbeɪɡəm /

noun

1. (in Pakistan and certain other Muslim countries) a woman of high rank, esp the widow of a prince

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Etymology

Origin of begum¹

1625–35; < Urdu begam ≪ Turkic begim, apparently a derivative of beg. See bey

Origin of begum²

be- + gum ¹

Example Sentences

That fuelled lifelong tensions between the Zia and Hasina families, dubbed the "Battle of the Begums"-- "begum" meaning a powerful woman.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Yvette, chic French begum of the portly Ago Khan, came down with what her secretary called "just a little lumbago."

From Time Magazine Archive

Another advantage about East Indian titles such as rajah and maharajah would be that for potent or puissant lady magnates you could say "begum."

From Time Magazine Archive

Hastings believed, and, it would seem, on good grounds, that the younger begum had busied herself actively in fomenting the insurrection which broke out upon the arrest of Cheyt Sing at Benares.

From The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 2 by Burney, Fanny

Unless the little begum took the initiative I shouldn't know where to begin.

From The High Heart by King, Basil