What does "harem" mean?
The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.
Harem
/ˈhɑːɹəm/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.
- Grammar: harem is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: seraglio, brothel, coterie, entourage.
- Useful contrasts: isolation, men's quarters, public space.
- Usage evidence: It appears that I don't have it in me to have a harem in my charge.
How to use "harem"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "harem" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "harem" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "harem" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "harem" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "harem" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "seraglio" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "harem", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers. countable, uncountable
""In the room next to her own, lived the harem of a merchant who had just arrived from Constantinople with merchandise. It consisted of his wife, children, and two female slaves, who being well off in their circumstances, enjoyed the comforts and conveniences of life, and eat and drank unsparingly every day.""
- 2 living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household wordnet
- 3 A group of someone's girlfriends, wives and/or concubines in a polygamous household. countable, uncountable
- 4 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. countable, uncountable
"I nodded my head and proceeded to make a flank attack on the nearest harem. All went well until I aimed a blow at an outlying cow's head and fell short. She snorted and tried to scramble away. I ran in close and struck another blow, hitting the shoulder instead of the head."
- 5 A group of female birds mated to or associated with a breeding male. countable, uncountable
"In the meantime we were hidden in a close juniper thicket on the little knoll, and expected the capercailzie cock every moment; but our old friend tarried a long time in his harem."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Any significant number of women together as a group; a bevy. countable, slang, uncountable
- 7 A genre of anime and manga in which a man is the love interest of three or more women. uncountable
Example
"It appears that I don't have it in me to have a harem in my charge."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "harem"?
Common synonyms include: seraglio, brothel, coterie, entourage, hareem, private quarters.
How do you use "harem" in a sentence?
It appears that I don't have it in me to have a harem in my charge.
How do you pronounce "harem"?
Pronounced /ˈhɑːɹəm/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish حرم (harem) 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.