Definition of "harem" in English

noun

1. The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.

2. A group of someone's girlfriends, wives and/or concubines in a polygamous household.

3. A group of female animals (cows) herded and controlled by a male animal (bull) of that species for breeding purposes. Such behaviour is exhibited by bovids including cattle and buffalo as well as moose, elephants, seals (including elephant seals), sea lions, and baboons.

   • 2006 Maestripieri, Dario; Mayhew, Jessica; Carlson, Cindy L.; Hoffman, Christy L.; and Radtke, Jennifer M. "One-Male Harems and Female Social Dynamics in Guinea Baboons", published in Folia Primatol 2007; 78:56–68, doi 10.1159/000095686

4. (ornithology) A group of female birds mated to or associated with a breeding male.

5. (slang) Any significant number of women together as a group; a bevy.

6. (uncountable) A genre of anime and manga in which a man is the love interest of three or more women.