1. the part of a Muslim household reserved for wives, female relatives, and concubines, traditionally kept separate from men outside the family
Usage: historical and cultural term; often capitalized when referring to a specific palace or institution
2. a group of female animals that mate with a single male
Usage: zoology

Examples

• The sultan's harem was located in the inner palace.
• Historical accounts describe the daily life of women in the harem.
• In some seal species, a dominant male controls a harem of females.
• The museum exhibit explained the architecture of Ottoman harems.
• Scholars study harem culture to understand historical gender roles in the Middle East.