yurt

American  

[yoort] / yʊərt /

noun

1. a tentlike dwelling of the Mongol and Turkic peoples of central Asia, consisting of a cylindrical wall of poles in a lattice arrangement with a conical roof of poles, both covered by felt or skins.

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yurt British  

/ jʊət /

noun

1. a circular tent consisting of a framework of poles covered with felt or skins, used by Mongolian and Turkic nomads of E and central Asia

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Etymology

Origin of yurt

First recorded in 1885–90; from Russian yurt, from Turkic; compare Turkish yurt “home, fatherland,” with cognates meaning “abode, dwelling” in all branches of Turkic

Explanation

A yurt is a round, tent-like home. Traditional yurts are portable, lending themselves well to nomadic lifestyles. A yurt's structure is usually provided by flexible wooden framing, covered by furs, felt, or canvas. The word comes from the Russian yurta, from a Turkic root that means "homeland," also literally referring to the imprint a yurt leaves in the ground when it's moved. In various parts of Central Asia, yurts have been common dwellings for thousands of years. In the U.S., where they're often used for camping, their popularity is more recent.

Example Sentences

I will not lie: Whenever I hear a HOF debate, in any sport, I want to cover myself in a weighted blanket and lie in a very dark room, perhaps in Rodgers’s yurt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

So much so that she was able to move her spiritual practice out of the yurt in her backyard and into the building on Ventura last January.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

It's enough to shake Santa's workshop, although in a designer outlet like this, the resident Santa is living in a "yurt".

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

Upon returning, warm up in the yurt, where you can relax with snacks and beverages.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

I am still in that yurt, any time I sleep, all this time later.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• canvas
• pavilion