seraglio

noun

se·​ra·​glio sə-ˈral-(ˌ)yō How to pronounce seraglio (audio)
-ˈräl-
plural seraglios
1
2
: a palace of a sultan

Examples of seraglio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Despite Miller’s visual panache — when’s the last time a seraglio was depicted on the big screen? — these anecdotes are ultimately as unsatisfying as Campion’s Dog. Armond White, National Review, 7 Sep. 2022 The film, which was to be called In the Sultan’s Power, involved a dashing American traveler who rescues a young Frenchwoman from the seraglio of a diabolical Turkish nobleman. Longreads, 15 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seraglio.' 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

Italian serraglio, modification of Turkish saray palace

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seraglio was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near seraglio

Cite this Entry

“Seraglio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seraglio. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

seraglio

noun
se·​ra·​glio sə-ˈral-yō How to pronounce seraglio (audio)
plural seraglios
: the rooms assigned to women in a Muslim household

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