What does concubine mean?
A concubine is a woman who lives with a man as his partner without being legally married to him, most often in historical or traditional contexts where such a relationship carried recognized — though subordinate — status within a household. The word appears frequently in religious texts, histories of imperial courts, and accounts of polygamous societies, where concubines ranked below wives but were not merely mistresses; their children could sometimes inherit. Today the term is used mainly in historical, biblical, or anthropological writing, and applying it to modern relationships can sound dated or disparaging. Derived forms include 'concubinage', which refers to the state of such a union and survives as a legal term in some jurisdictions. The word derives from Latin 'concubina', from 'concumbere', meaning 'to lie down together'. Its enduring usefulness lies precisely in capturing relationships that fall between marriage and mere liaison — a distinction many cultures drew carefully and formally.
nounA woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife, especially in societies where this was a legally or socially recognized secondary relationship; historically, often a secondary wife of lower status in a household.
- A woman who lives with a man as his sexual partner without being married to him, especially one of recognized status in polygamous or traditional societies.
- A mistress, particularly one kept by a man of means.
"In the royal court, she held the rank of concubine rather than queen."
"Abraham took Hagar as a concubine according to the customs recorded in Genesis."
"Imperial records listed every concubine admitted to the Forbidden City."
Regular plural; standard in all varieties of English.
"The sultan's palace housed dozens of concubines."
The word 'concubine' literally means 'to lie down with' — from Latin 'concumbere', the same root that gave us 'cubicle', originally just a place to lie down.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concubine
'Concubine' comes from Latin 'concubina', meaning a woman who lies down with a man, derived from 'concumbere' ('to lie together'), a compound of 'com-' ('with') and 'cumbere' ('to lie'). The same root gives English 'concupiscence' (strong desire) and relates to 'cubicle' and 'incumbent', all built on lying or reclining. The word passed into English via Old French during the Middle Ages, retaining its sense of a non-marital partner living within a man's household.
Related word forms
How concubine is actually used
The word is largely historical or anthropological in modern usage and carries formal, sometimes archaic connotations; it can sound judgmental or exoticizing when applied to contemporary relationships. In legal history, 'concubine' described unions lacking full marital standing, and 'concubinage' remains a technical term in some civil-law systems for cohabitation outside marriage.
Easily confused with concubine
A courtesan is a high-status, often independent escort or mistress to wealthy patrons, whereas a concubine typically cohabits within a man's household in a recognized but subordinate position.