courthouse

noun

court·​house ˈkȯrt-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce courthouse (audio)
1
a
: a building in which courts of law are regularly held
b
: the principal building in which county offices are housed
2

Examples of courthouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In handing down the sentence, Rowland said Marquez’s level of cooperation was unusual even in a courthouse with a long history of defendants cutting deals with the government. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 With the notable exception of the harrowing arrests at immigration courthouses downtown, the scale of ICE activity in New York City hasn’t been close to what has been seen in such places as Minneapolis or Southern California. Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026 Crowds filled the plaza outside the Spring Street courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, with lines stretched out the door to enter the building, where many had waited for hours just for a glimpse of the CEO. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 For example, if a hurricane destroys a school, a courthouse and 50 miles of roads in a city, FEMA will give the local government more money than if that same hurricane damages one building. Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for courthouse

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of courthouse was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Courthouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courthouse. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

courthouse

noun
court·​house ˈkō(ə)rt-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce courthouse (audio)
ˈkȯ(ə)rt-
: a building in which courts of law are held or county offices are located

Legal Definition

courthouse

noun
court·​house
: a building in which court is regularly held

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