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

In the Loop, sit by warming firepits or in an igloo or cabana at The Godfrey Hotel’s Winter Wonderland, or admire breathtaking views at Rudolph’s Rooftop Winter Igloos at LondonHouse Chicago. — Allison Yates, Midwest Living, 3 Nov. 2026

The igloo draws on your dog’s own body heat to keep it warm, so the igloo shouldn’t be too big. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

The team's crest receives the pop-art treatment, while the shoulder patches feature an igloo representing the old Civic Arena and a triangle representing Pittsburgh's three rivers. — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Visitors can sip cocktails in courtyard igloos at The Harpeth Franklin Downtown, stay on a working farm at Southall, or bed down in a historic bed and breakfast on a Civil War battleground. — Sarah Bisacca, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2026

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