Matryoshka

//ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next.

    "The past is not only a foreign country that we half knew existed; it is hiding another concealed country behind it, and behind that one, another, and another – like a set of Russian matryoshki, in which larger dolls conceal smaller."

Synonyms

All synonyms
babushkababushka dollmatrioshka dollmatryoshka dollrussian doll

Example

More examples

"Tom has a collection of Matryoshka dolls."

Etymology

From Russian матрёшка (matrjóška), from personal name Матрёна (Matrjóna), formerly Матрона (Matrona), ultimately from Latin mātrōna (“matron”).

Related phrases

Matrioshka brainone of set of wooden russian dolls of different sizes designed such that each fits inside next

More for "matryoshka"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.