purdah

American  

[pur-duh] / ˈpɜr də /

Or purda,

noun

1. the seclusion of women from the sight of men or strangers, practiced by some Muslims and Hindus.

2. a screen, curtain, or veil used for this purpose.

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purdah British  

/ ˈpɜːdə /

noun

1. the custom in some Muslim and Hindu communities of keeping women in seclusion, with clothing that conceals them completely when they go out

2. a screen in a Hindu house used to keep the women out of view

3. a veil worn by Hindu women of high caste

4. informal hiding or isolation

   the Treasury is currently locked in pre-budget purdah

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Etymology

Origin of purdah

1790–1800; < Hindi, Urdu pardah curtain < Persian

Example Sentences

Nesbitt said the law cannot be changed due to purdah, which is a period in the run up to an election when no new ministerial policies can be introduced.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

"My intention would not be to stay right up until polling day because purdah will kick in and there will be other stages as well," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2024

That doesn’t mean they should enter a state of purdah, curtail all encounters with the opposite sex, strike friends bearing proscribed genitalia from their address book and only make single-sex social engagements.

From The Guardian • Oct. 20, 2019

The self-styled protector was in purdah and he resented it.

From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2019

I had seen these women nearly every day of my life observing the code of purdah, where they cover themselves in public.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai