1. women who live with a man but have lower status than his wife or wives
Usage: historical; plural of concubine

Examples

• In ancient times, wealthy men often kept concubines in addition to their wives.
• The emperor’s concubines lived in a separate wing of the palace.
• Historical records mention the concubines of various rulers throughout different dynasties.
• The practice of keeping concubines was common in many ancient civilizations.
• Some concubines gained significant political influence despite their unofficial status.
• The novel depicted the lives of concubines in 18th-century China.