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

A number of Glastonbury glampers have been left ticketless and out of pocket weeks before the festival after a luxury yurt company went into liquidation.

From BBC • May 22, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

What makes a house or an apartment building or an Airstream trailer or a yurt a home for the holidays?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

But the old man turned and walked into the yurt.

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

Related Words

• canvas
• pavilion