harem

UK: /ˌhɑːˈriːm/, /ˈhɛərəm/

US: /ˈhɛrəm, ˈhær-/

US: (hâr′əm, har′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

har•em /ˈhɛrəm, ˈhær-/   n. [countable]

1. the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved as a living place for women.
2. the women dwelling in a harem.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

har•em  (hâr′əm, har′-), n. 

1. the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
2. the women in a Muslim household, including the mother, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants.
3. Animal Behavior a social group of females, as elephant seals, accompanied or followed by one fertile male who denies other males access to the group.
4. Slang Terms [Facetious or Offensive.] a group of women associated in any way with one man or household:
   Father joked that he had a harem of five daughters.

Also, haram, hareem, harim. 

• Arabic harīm harem, literally, forbidden
• 1625–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

harem / ˈhɛərəm hɑːˈriːm/, hareem / hɑːˈriːm/ noun

(formerly) the part of a Muslim house reserved strictly for wives, concubines, etc

the women occupying this part of the house

a group of female animals of the same species that are the mates of a single male

Etymology: 17th Century: from Arabic harīm forbidden (place)