backyard

1 of 2

noun

back·​yard ˈbak-ˈyärd 

1

: an area at the rear of a house

2

: a nearby area : neighborhood

crimes committed in our own backyard

backyard

2 of 2

adjective

: located or occurring in a backyard

a backyard barbecue

also : lacking professional training : amateur

a backyard breeder

Synonyms of backyard

Noun

• vicinity

Adjective

• amateur

Examples of backyard in a Sentence

Noun

We spent the evening relaxing in the backyard.

shocked to learn that the wind farm would be right in our own backyard

Adjective

an orchid that is a favorite with backyard horticulturists

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

How to Make an Orange Peel Bird Feeder While a permanent backyard bird feeder is always an option, a compostable bird feeder is quick to make from a larger citrus fruit. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025

Following the crash, CBS News Philadelphia spoke with Caitlyn Collins, who said one of the helicopters landed in her backyard. —Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Choose black oil sunflower seeds, Stewart recommends, because most backyard birds, including woodpeckers, finches, chickadees, and titmice, eat them. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025

The agency is concerned that some wild birds, geese, backyard domestic fowl and commercial poultry flocks may have contracted Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which is contagious among bird populations. —Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1719, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backyard

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

Kids Definition

backyard

noun

back·​yard

-ˈyärd

1

: an area in back of a house

2

: an area in which one has a special interest