I. |demē|mänd, -mōnd; dəmēmōⁿd noun
( -s )
Etymology: French demi-monde, from demi- (from demi half) + monde world, from Latin mundus — more at demi- , mundane
1.
a. : a class of women on the fringes of respectable society characterized by liaisons with and economic dependence upon wealthy lovers but not engaged in open prostitution and usually striving to present an appearance of respectability
b. : the class of prostitutes : courtesans
the city's demimonde grew during the war
2. : a member of the demimonde : demimondaine
the richer demimondes … joined London society in its glittering and fashionable parade — Hollis Alpert
3.
a. : a group (as within a profession) characterized by dealings of doubtful legality or propriety or by cheap commercialism or hack work and often by conspicuous lack of financial success
the demimonde of letters
the artistic demimonde
also : the area in which such a group resides or is concentrated
b. : any group engaged in activity of doubtful or twilight legality or propriety
the political demimonde of international fascism — Edmond Taylor
II. noun
: a distinctive class, group, or activity that is often an isolated part of a larger class, group, or activity
the pop music demimonde
the literary demimonde
especially : one having little reputation or prestige