harem
noun
har·em
| \ ˈher-əm
\
\
Definition of harem
1a
: a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in some Muslim households
b
: the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem
2
informal
: a group of women associated with one man
the pop star and his harem
3
: a group of females associated with one male
—used of polygamous animals Researchers who study elk have determined that the males who possess the largest harems of females not only sport the largest racks of antlers, but also the most symmetrical ones.— Natalie Angier
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Examples of harem in a Sentence
the pop star and his harem
Recent Examples on the Web
In its world premiere at Cal Shakes, Madhuri Shekar’s swashbuckling adventure, directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, plunges us inside the silk and glitter of a harem in 17th-century India during the Mughal Empire. — Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, "Review: Swashbuckling world premiere ‘House of Joy’ hits and misses at Cal Shakes," 19 Aug. 2019 One day a new girl showed up at Spahn Ranch with Bobby Beausoleil, who kept his own little harem and was more of a Manson associate than follower. — Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times, "How Charles Manson cast his spell on homecoming queens, honor students and dropouts," 11 Aug. 2019 An action-adventure romance set in a harem at the beginning of the end of the Mughal Empire. — Lisa Herendeen, The Mercury News, "S.F. Bay Area calendar: Beauty and the Beast Jr., jazz and more," 22 July 2019 Claiming no favorites, Zeffirelli once likened himself to a sultan with a harem of three: film, theater and opera. — Colleen Barry, chicagotribune.com, "Famed Italian director Franco Zeffirelli dies at age 96," 15 June 2019 Claiming no favorites, Zeffirelli once likened himself to a sultan with a harem of three: film, theater and opera. — NBC News, "'Romeo and Juliet' director Franco Zeffirelli dies at 96," 15 June 2019 Claiming no favorites, Zeffirelli once likened himself to a sultan with a harem of three: film, theater and opera. — CBS News, "Franco Zeffirelli, Italian director known for "Romeo and Juliet," dies at 96," 15 June 2019 The show marked a movement of the label’s sharply tailored proportions into more languid, volumized silhouettes such as billowy harem trousers. — Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, "Starry Crowd Gathers in Malibu for Saint Laurent's Mick Jagger-Inspired Men's Show," 7 June 2019 Royal gardens, peeling frescoes, and tiled mosaics are breathtaking in their beauty, but the zenith of any visit is a wander through the sultan’s harem, once home to hundreds of concubines and their eunuch guards. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, "Three Days In Istanbul," 28 Dec. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'harem.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for harem
harem
noun
English Language Learners Definition of harem
: a house or part of a house in which the women of a Muslim household live
: the women who live in a harem in a Muslim household
informal
: a group of women who are associated with one man
See the full definition for harem in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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