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

With seven windows, two main entrances on Via Montenapoleone and one in the courtyard, the store in the stately neoclassical building dating back to the late 17th century spans over three levels. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Kirk, 31, had been debating students in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by tall buildings and with several thousand people in attendance. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

There’s a patio with an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit lounge, a pool and spa, and a courtyard. — Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026

Several people who were in the apartment made their way onto a third-floor landing overlooking the courtyard. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 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