Standard Lemma guide

brothelkeeper

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who runs a brothel, whether legally or illegally.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bawd

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: madam

History

Etymology

From brothel + keeper.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: bordeelhouder — person who keeps a brothel
  • Dutch: bordeelhoudster — person who keeps a brothel
  • Dutch: hoerenwaard — person who keeps a brothel
  • Dutch: hoerenwaardin — person who keeps a brothel
  • French: tenancier de maison close — person who keeps a brothel
  • French: tenancière de maison close — person who keeps a brothel
  • French: tenancière — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellwirt — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellwirtin — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellbetreiber — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellbetreiberin — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellvater — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Bordellmutter — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Puffvater — person who keeps a brothel
  • German: Puffmutter — person who keeps a brothel
  • Ancient Greek: πορνοβοσκός (pornoboskós) — person who keeps a brothel
  • Polish: bajzelmama — person who keeps a brothel
  • Polish: burdelmama — person who keeps a brothel