1. the state or condition of being a eunuch; castration or the practice of castrating males.
Usage: historical; formal
2. the practice or institution of employing eunuchs, especially in royal courts or harems.
Usage: historical

Examples

• Eunuchism was practiced in various ancient and medieval societies, particularly in the Ottoman Empire and imperial China.
• Historical records document the widespread use of eunuchism in royal households throughout Asia.
• The institution of eunuchism served specific social and political functions in certain cultures.
• Scholars study eunuchism as part of understanding historical gender and power structures.
• The decline of eunuchism in the 20th century reflected broader social and legal changes.