Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

concubine

noun

/ˈkɒŋkjʊbaɪn/

Definition

A woman who is not legally married but has a long-term sexual relationship with a man, often in a context where the man may also have a legal wife.

Examples

The king had several concubines in addition to his queen.
In ancient times, a concubine could provide heirs to a man who was unable to have children with his wife.
She was called a concubine, yet her role was respected in their community.

Meaning

The term concubine historically refers to a woman who lives with a man as his partner but has a lower status than his wife, frequently used in societies where polygamy is accepted.