1. plural of begum: Muslim women of high rank, especially wives or widows of Indian princes
Usage: historical; South Asian

Examples

• The begums lived in luxurious palaces with their own courts.
• Several begums wielded considerable political influence in 18th-century India.
• The British colonial records mention various begums who ruled territories.
• These begums were known for their patronage of arts and literature.
• The begums maintained their own armies and administrative systems.
• Historical accounts describe the wealth and power of these begums.