courthouse

noun

court·​house ˈkȯrt-ˌhau̇s 

1

a

: a building in which courts of law are regularly held

b

: the principal building in which county offices are housed

2

: county seat

Examples of courthouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rodriguez said federal agents cited a deportation order from 1998 during Estrada Juarez’s detention last month at the courthouse. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

State heath officials are now urging anyone who was at the courthouse that day to check their vaccination status and report any measles symptoms from now until March 17 to a health care provider. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026

Clark was charged with murder and is on trial this week at the Markham courthouse, 13 years after charges were first announced. —Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026

Outside the Santa Clara County courthouse, O’Connor’s attorney, Stephen Prekoski, thanked jurors for rejecting or reducing four charges. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for courthouse

• alehouse
• almshouse
• backhouse
• baghouse
• bakehouse
• bathhouse
• bauhaus
• blockhouse
• boathouse
• brewhouse
• bunkhouse
• clubhouse

Kids Definition

courthouse

noun

court·​house ˈkō(ə)rt-ˌhau̇s 

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