yeti
Americannoun
-
yetis
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of yeti
First recorded in 1950–55; < the Tibetan language of the Sherpas
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How does yeti compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A yeti is a mythical creature that's said to live in the Himalayan mountains. Another name for a yeti is "abominable snowman." While most people consider the yeti to be a legend, there are those who believe it's a real human-like creature that lives in Nepal and Tibet. The yeti — which is often spelled with a capital Y — has long been part of Tibetan legend and myth, and has existed in Western popular culture since the 19th century, when Himalayan explorers first reported seeing a strange, tall creature. The Tibetan root of yeti is yeh-teh, "small manlike animal."
Vocabulary lists containing yeti
Before the Ever After
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Odd One Out
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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:
I found Infosys most interesting because, to my knowledge, there are no other IT or consulting firms with creature mascots like Leon the yeti.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
“Imagine you had to publish a debunking of the yeti in the yeti-hunting journal and the only people who peer review it are yeti experts,” he says.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 20, 2024
Behind the magic: “In ‘Yeti: Campground Kills’ we created a tribe of yeti that ranged in fur colors and age.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 16, 2023
In the 1950s, after the first Gigantopithecus mandible was discovered, some suggested that it could be proof of the yeti, Bigfoot’s supposed Himalayan cousin.
From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2023
The yeti devours anything that strays into its path, though it fears fire and may be repulsed by skilled wizards.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
Mostly it’s a fun animated musical about yetis and humans, but it may also inspire healthy discussions about questioning authority and standing up for the truth.
From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2024
By contrast, someone who says they encountered "ghosts, yetis, spirits, elves and other mythical/legendary entities" is classified as "AN3."
From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2022
There are fantasy reborns based on Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the Grinch, hybrid baby-animals, yetis, and ogres.
From The Verge ● Mar. 10, 2022
“The purported yetis from the Tibetan plateau matched Tibetan brown bears, the ones from the western Himalayan mountains matched the Himalayan brown bear and then, at possibly slightly lower altitude were Asian black bears.”
From The Guardian ● Nov. 29, 2017
“Are the yetis really as bad as everyone makes them seem?”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
