purdah

[pur-dah]

purdah Definition

• 1. a practice among women in certain Muslim and Hindu societies of living in a separate room or behind a curtain, or of dressing in all-enveloping clothes, in order to stay out of the sight of men or strangers
• 2. seclusion or isolation from public view or activity

Using purdah: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "purdah" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She was kept in purdah until her wedding day.

• Example

  The royal family was put under purdah during the political crisis.

• Example

  The company went into purdah after the data breach.

• Example

  The celebrity couple is in purdah as they prepare for their secret wedding.

purdah Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for purdah

• isolation
• seclusion
• retirement
• solitude
• privacy

Antonyms for purdah

• exposure
• publicity

Phrases with purdah

• lift the purdah

  to end a period of seclusion or secrecy

  Example

  The company lifted the purdah and released a statement about the data breach.

• put someone in purdah

  to isolate or seclude someone from public view or activity

  Example

  The celebrity couple was put in purdah by their management team to avoid media attention.

• break the purdah

  to violate the rules of seclusion or privacy

  Example

  The politician broke the purdah by leaking confidential information to the press.

Origins of purdah

from Hindi 'pardā', meaning 'curtain'

📌

Summary: purdah in Brief

'Purdah' [pur-dah] refers to the practice of seclusion or isolation from public view or activity, particularly among women in certain Muslim and Hindu societies. It can involve living in a separate room or behind a curtain, or dressing in all-enveloping clothes, to stay out of the sight of men or strangers. 'Purdah' extends into phrases like 'lift the purdah,' denoting the end of a period of seclusion, and 'put someone in purdah,' implying isolation from public view.