courtyard

noun

court·​yard ˈkȯrt-ˌyärd 

: a court or enclosure adjacent to a building (such as a house or palace)

Synonyms of courtyard

• patio
• quadrangle
• enclosure
• yard

Examples of courtyard in a Sentence

The apartment overlooks a courtyard.

a series of lunchtime concerts in the museum's open-air courtyard

Recent Examples on the Web

Come nighttime, La Plaza, the resort’s open courtyard resembling a town square, dims the lights and turns up the volume to the beats of international DJs. — Jennifer Fernández Solano, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Large, stone spheres by Polish artist Alicja Kwade fill the rectangular courtyard. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

While its historic character remains intact, the guest rooms, restaurant, and courtyard have been thoughtfully updated with modern comforts. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026

Russian footage posted from that time shows what appears to be their infantry’s point of view from inside an apartment complex courtyard, off the town’s Gromov Street, on the southwestern edges again. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for courtyard

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

Kids Definition

courtyard

noun

court·​yard -ˌyärd 

: a court or enclosure next to a building