teepee

American  

[tee-pee] / ˈti pi /

Or tepee,

noun

teepees plural

1. a tent of the American Indians, made usually from animal skins laid on a conical frame of long poles and having an opening at the top for ventilation and a flap door.

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teepee British  

/ ˈtiːpiː /

noun

1. a variant spelling of tepee

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• teepees
  plural

Etymology

Origin of teepee

An Americanism first recorded in 1735–45; from Dakota tʰípi, equivalent to tʰí- “to dwell” + -pi plural indefinite abstract noun suffix

Compare meaning

How does teepee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• wigwam vs. teepee

Example Sentences

At the time, he was face down on a soft cushion inside a teepee in the nursery's baby room.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The lavvu, a traditional Sámi structure that resembles a teepee or a tent, is insulated with reindeer skins, and in the center, on a floor of twigs, a hearth.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2023

From teepee style to canopied and full-on camping quality, there’s a slew to choose from.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2021

Pursuing the animals on horseback, they ate fresh or dried buffalo meat and used the hides for clothing and for their distinctive portable dwelling, the teepee.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

One of our chaperones, Mr. Andrews, who is a sixth-grade homeroom teacher, has shown everyone how to build a campfire, starting with sticks placed in the shape of a teepee.

From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin