begum

noun

be·​gum ˈbā-gəm How to pronounce begum (audio) ˈbē- How to pronounce begum (audio)
: a Muslim woman of high rank (as in India or Pakistan)

Examples of begum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The begum was an arresting-looking woman, tall and broad-shouldered, with a face as craggy and immobile as an Easter Island statue. Ellen Barry, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'begum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu begam

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of begum was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near begum

Cite this Entry

“Begum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/begum. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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