What does "seraglio" mean?
A palace of a sultan.
Seraglio
/səˈɹæljoʊ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A palace of a sultan.
- Grammar: seraglio is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: harem, serail, brothel, concubines.
- Useful contrasts: openness, public life.
- Usage evidence: At these words he started up, and beheld—not his Sophia—no, nor a Circassian maid richly and elegantly attired for the grand Signior's seraglio.
How to use "seraglio"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "seraglio" 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 "seraglio" 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 "seraglio" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "seraglio" 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 "seraglio" is acting as noun 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 "harem" 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 "seraglio", 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 A palace of a sultan.
- 2 living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household wordnet
- 3 A palace of a sultan.; The palace of the Grand Seignior in Constantinople.
"At these words he started up, and beheld—not his Sophia—no, nor a Circassian maid richly and elegantly attired for the grand Signior's seraglio."
- 4 A profligate or decadent residence of a rich person.
"In 1936 [Charles] Schwab's agents approached the La Guardia administration in New York, hoping to interest the city in buying his mansion for the official residence of the mayor. […] But Fiorello La Guardia took great pride in the fact that he lived in a modest walkup in Lower New York. He ridiculed the idea of moving into the robber baron's seraglio, telling newsmen that the city much preferred having the tax revenue from the mansion."
- 5 The sequestered living quarters used by wives and concubines (odalisques) in a Turkish Muslim household.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A brothel or place of debauchery.
- 7 An interior cage or enclosed courtyard for keeping wild beasts.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
opennesspublic life
Example
"At these words he started up, and beheld—not his Sophia—no, nor a Circassian maid richly and elegantly attired for the grand Signior's seraglio."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "seraglio"?
Common synonyms include: harem, serail, brothel, concubines, hareem, harem women.
How do you use "seraglio" in a sentence?
At these words he started up, and beheld—not his Sophia—no, nor a Circassian maid richly and elegantly attired for the grand Signior's seraglio.
How do you pronounce "seraglio"?
Pronounced /səˈɹæljoʊ/.
Etymology
From Italian serraglio, from Vulgar Latin *serrāculum, from a late form of Latin serāre (“lock up, close”), from sera (“lock, bolt”). The Italian word was used (because of phonetic similarity) to translate Turkish saray (palace). Compare serai, serail.