courtyard

noun

court·​yard ˈkȯrt-ˌyärd 

: a court or enclosure adjacent to a building (such as a house or palace)

Synonyms of courtyard

• patio
• quadrangle
• enclosure
• yard

Examples of courtyard in a Sentence

The apartment overlooks a courtyard.

a series of lunchtime concerts in the museum's open-air courtyard

Recent Examples on the Web

Phase one will also include telehealth services and an outdoor courtyard. — Laura Horne july 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

Windows cornice the terracotta roofs of Rome, the city’s domes, bell towers and hidden courtyards. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 July 2026

Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

The deck is almost an expansion of this space, leading down to the central courtyard, where a giant California sycamore and a mature Valencia orange tree create a leafy oasis. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for courtyard

• asgard
• backyard
• barnyard
• blackguard
• bombard
• brickyard
• canard
• churchyard
• coastguard
• debarred
• diehard
• disbarred

Kids Definition

courtyard

noun

court·​yard -ˌyärd 

: a court or enclosure next to a building