concubine

noun con·cu·bine \ ˈkäŋ-kyu̇-ˌbīn , ˈkän- , -kyü- \

Definition of concubine

: a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married: such as

a : one having a recognized social status in a household below that of a wife

b : mistress 4a

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Examples of concubine in a Sentence

spent an exorbitant sum on furnishing living quarters for his concubine

Recent Examples of concubine from the Web

Little girls were also purchased and used as household slaves until old enough to become prostitutes or concubines.

— gary kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, "Shame of the city: When Chinese sex slaves were trafficked in SF," 5 Jan. 2018
Her father, a former rebel commander, had eight wives and numerous concubines.

— The Economist, "The perils of polygamyThe link between polygamy and war," 16 Dec. 2017
The Walking Dead, which in the last three years has killed off almost every person of color and turned the rest into concubines and cuckolds?

— jason johnson, The Root, "In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, John Boyega, People of Color Get to Shine in a Galaxy Far, Far Away," 15 Dec. 2017
The cast also includes Geoffrey Barnes in the dual role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, Ernaisja Curry as a wily concubine, Samantha Russell as one of the Merry People, along with Brandon Burton and Greg Mallios as castle guards.

— david lyman, Cincinnati.com, "'Marian or the True Tale of Robin Hood' a feather in Know Theatre's cap," 29 July 2017
The patriarch of Comfort — church, state and pharmaceutical industry all at once — is a philosophical fellow with a droopy mustache and a retinue of pregnant concubines.

— a. o. scott, New York Times, "Review: Cannibalism, Hallucinogens and Keanu: ‘The Bad Batch’ Has It All," 22 June 2017
Empress Wu is legendary in China for using her wit, intelligence and cunning to eclipse all rivals and rise from her position as Emperor Taizong’s favorite concubine to the very apex of court life.

— charlie campbell / beijing, Time, "'I'm Even Better Than Elizabeth Taylor': Meet Chinese Actress Liu Xiaoqing," 12 June 2017
When her husband returns from the Trojan War, Clytemnestra murders him and his concubine in retaliation.

— erin saxon, kansascity.com, "Greeks bearing grudges come to blistering life in ‘House of Names’," 27 May 2017
Some of them—such as Lee Puey You, who was forced by famine and filial duty to marry a man thirty years her senior, only to become his concubine—

— beenish ahmed, The New Yorker, "The Lost Poetry of the Angel Island Detention Center," 22 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concubine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of concubine

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin concubina, from com- + cubare to lie

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

CONCUBINE Defined for English Language Learners

concubine

noun

Definition of concubine for English Language Learners

: an unmarried woman who has sex with a man and lives with the man and his wife or wives

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See words that rhyme with concubine Britannica English: Translation of concubine for Arabic speakers

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concubine

Definition of concubine

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Recent Examples of concubine from the Web

Origin and Etymology of concubine

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CONCUBINE Defined for English Language Learners

concubine

Definition of concubine for English Language Learners

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concubine

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Recent Examples of concubine from the Web

Origin and Etymology of concubine

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