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matryoshka

British  
/ ˌmætrɪˈɒʃkə /

noun

  1. another word for Russian doll

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of matryoshka

C20: from Russian matreshka mother, highly respected lady


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Nearby, a group of wooden "matryoshka" dolls, in traditional Russian dress with rosy cheeks, stood on one shelf, gleaming across from brightly painted Soviet tin cars.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2025

Described in the wall text as a “living matryoshka doll,” the collection of eight pieces shown on one model distills the V&R poetics: a powerful idea, a performance-oriented presentation, a sense of wonder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2025

Rubio was given a Russian matryoshka doll while Prokopyev was shown smiling beside the capsule and holding an watermelon which he requested on landing.

From Reuters ● Sep. 27, 2023

It’s like a supercharged matryoshka doll, with each layer peeling back to reveal and fertilize another layer — and another, and another, and another, until a viewer is dizzy with exhaustion, both delightful and chastening.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2023

I carried the matryoshka dolls into the guest bedroom, where Radar was carefully stashing Santas into a dresser.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

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