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

Each of the 28 igloos has comfortable beds, a full bathroom, and a 16-foot-wide window on its roof, enabling guests to watch for the aurora borealis at night. —Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 3 Jan. 2025

Embrace the whimsy at this glass igloo hotel, where accommodations were specially designed for panoramic sky views. —Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025

One person suggested Aysha buy a heated mat and cat bed igloo. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Open from September through April, the 27 igloos on the property all have clear views of the sky, the better to aurora-watch. —Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 3 Jan. 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