What does tepee mean?
Tepee is a noun for a portable, conical tent, especially one traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of the North American Plains. Its simple pole frame and hide or other covering allowed it to be raised, taken down, and transported as people moved across the grasslands. Today the word often carries a historical or cultural association, even when it is used more broadly for any tent of that conical form. Tipi is a widely recognized spelling variant, while teepee is another; all three refer to the same English noun. In careful discussion of Native American material culture, writers may prefer the form used by the particular people being described. Tepee is also useful because it identifies a specific architecture rather than a tent in general: a tepee is conical, whereas other types of shelter may be domed, rectangular, or otherwise shaped. The word's history reinforces its cultural specificity.
nounA portable conical tent, especially one traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of the North American Plains. Its framework is traditionally made from poles and covered with hides or other materials.
- A portable conical tent, especially one traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of the North American Plains.
"The family raised a tepee near the edge of the camp before dusk."
"Historical photographs show families standing beside tepees on the open plains."
"The guide's presentation included a diagram explaining how to assemble the poles of a tepee."
The standard plural is tepees; the spelling variant tipi takes tipis.
"Several tepees stood near the center of the camp."
A tepee could be raised, dismantled, and transported whole, making its portable cone-shaped design ideal for a mobile way of life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tepee come from?
The English word tepee was borrowed in the 19th century from an Ojibwe form associated with Cree. It refers to the conical tent characteristic of many Plains societies. English later developed several established spellings, including tipi and teepee.
How tepee is actually used
The word is used in both British and American English but is most closely associated with the history and material culture of the North American Plains. When discussing a specific Indigenous nation, it is considerate to use the naming and terminology preferred by that community.
Easily confused with tepee
Tipi is an alternative English spelling of tepee rather than a word with a distinct meaning.