: a circular domed tent of skins or felt stretched over a collapsible lattice framework and used by pastoral peoples of inner Asia
also : a structure that resembles a yurt usually in size and design

Illustration of yurt

Illustration of yurt

Examples of yurt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guests hike, ski, or snowshoe about a mile to reach this cozy yurt (rides can also be arranged), where they’re treated to a candlelit, multicourse gourmet meal featuring Colorado specialties like elk and trout. — Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2026 Over the past 10 years Lucky Find Hospitality has helped launch hotels where guests sleep in yurts, treehouses, glamping tents and Airstreams and. — Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Beyond a space to live, the yurt was a sacral structure, based on the belief that the universe itself was shaped like a giant yurt. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026 At Hyde Memorial State Park, visitors can even opt to camp in yurts. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for yurt

Word History

Etymology

Russian dialect yurta, of Turkic origin; akin to Turkish yurt home

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yurt was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yurt. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a light round tent of skins or felt used by nomads in central Asia
Etymology

from Russian yurta "a domed tent, yurt"; of Turkish origin

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