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

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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

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Compare meaning

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

• wigwam vs. teepee

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

teepee teepees

The property includes a lodge, a teepee, a basketball court, a number of ponds and creeks, and several hunting areas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

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

At the Dakota Access protest, Braun’s teepee was the first to go up at what became Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2022

Mrs. Brush sent me into the teepee to recopy the poem neatly for the printer.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Hides for clothing and teepees, bones for tools and weapons, horns for ladles, hair for rope — a steady supply of bison was fundamental.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

“When someone sets up a bunch of teepees in the desert and invite people to stay there, where do they go to the bathroom?” he asked.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

“They set up this little community, put their teepees up and had some tents donated, and there were kids everywhere,” Thompson said, sobbing.

From National Geographic ● Dec. 21, 2020

A developer representative pushed back, arguing that teepees are a part of the glamping industry as seen in campgrounds in the region and that dropping the many planned teepees would require reworking the site plan.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2020

Some homes there are teepees, stitched together from rags.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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