igloo

noun

ig·​loo ˈi-(ˌ)glü 

plural igloos

1

: a usually dome-shaped dwelling of arctic regions that is usually made of blocks of snow or ice when built for temporary purposes or of sod, wood, or stone when permanent and that is typically associated with the indigenous Inuit, Inupiat, and Yupik peoples of Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and eastern Siberia

2

: a building or structure shaped like a dome

Illustration of igloo

• igloo 1

Examples of igloo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ice can serve as the base of a bridge or can be packed into blocks of snow and formed into an igloo for shelter. —D. Hunter Reardon, USA Today, 4 June 2025

The igloos are partially frosted so other guests can’t see inside and are outfitted with a large bed and thick, fluffy bedding. —Kerry Spencer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024

The seasonal igloos were first introduced during the pandemic as a safe way to social distance. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024

Because snow is a better insulator than ice—this quality is why igloos work so well—flooding and freezing the snow could allow more cold to penetrate to the ice’s underside, creating more ice. —Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Inuit iglu house

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

igloo

noun

ig·​loo ˈig-lü 

plural igloos

: an Inuit house usually made of wood, sod, or stone when permanent or of blocks of snow or ice in the form of a dome when built for temporary use