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

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

Thanks to their versatility, azaleas can be used in many different ways in both small backyards and larger spaces. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025

Any bird enthusiast will tell you that one of the biggest joys is seeing wild birds enjoy backyard feeders that have been lovingly hung and stocked with birdseed. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 7 July 2025

Adjective

But the agency has determined the patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, marking the first U.S. infection linked to a backyard flock. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

On December 18, the CDC announced that the first severe H5N1 case in a human had been detected, which is thought to have been caught after exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 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