tipi
Americannoun
-
tipis
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Explanation
The traditional tent-like dwelling of the Plains Indians is called a tipi. Modern tipis are often made of canvas, with flaps at the top allowing smoke to escape. Tipis (also spelled teepee) were historically used by indigenous Americans who lived a nomadic lifestyle, since these dwellings could be easily taken down, carried to a new place, and reassembled. Traditionally, tipis were made with long wooden poles covered by animal skins. A tipi would keep families dry in the rain, cool in hot weather, and warm in the winter with the help of a fire. Tipi comes from the Lakota thípi, "dwelling."
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:
A few minutes later he stops to show off a series of tipi rings — artifacts of Indigenous life that he’s promised local tribes he’ll protect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
In May, Indian protesters erected a tipi on the pathway of a pipe being built from a nearby water source to the mine.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
"You take the meat, you salt it, and then you hang it outside in the tipi and smoke it," says Henry.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2022
The newly restored space features large wooden beams in the shape of a tipi over the altar and evocative images of Jesus and his followers portrayed with Indigenous features.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 22, 2022
Clarence taught them how to put up a tipi, and that’s where they slept.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
Strummerville overlooks a sea of tipis and is named in memory of Joe Strummer, The Clash's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, who died in 2002.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025
Matt Reed, the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal historic preservation officer, says that tiny footprint comes as a surprise to modern Pawnee, whose traditional tipis are big enough to fit whole families.
From Science Magazine ● Mar. 29, 2023
Two of those photos are of tipis, and another shows a person inside a tipi with a wa’paas basket, slivers of light seen through the tule mats that are part of the tipi.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 25, 2023
The North Cache Avenue business, a reminder of Jackson’s old-style tourism, had tipis set up and brought in Shoshone and Arapahoe dancers from the Wind River Reservation near Lander.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 27, 2020
When they return, they find the tipis set up and the blankets spread out on the grass, and in a few minutes fires are built and the meal is in preparation.”
From Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
