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

The 2-year-old appears to have gotten out into the backyard and opened a kennel where two Rottweilers were being kept, allowing the dogs to get out and attack him, the Valdosta Police Department said in a statement. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025

And if your backyard isn't large enough for a two-story tiny home, the company does offer a single-story option, which includes a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bed area. —Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 6 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The battery handles a full film, so backyard screenings are easy. —Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025

Then a game changing innovation came in the form of backyard gas grills. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 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