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

Couples often go for one of the 26 roomy Lakeside Villas, where the courtyard is bigger than the villa. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026

Amber Fort, perched on a hilltop, has several palaces, courtyards, and the famous Sheesh Mahal. — Shalbha Sarda, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026

After his speech, Villeneuve and all the guests made their way out to LACMA’s main courtyard, where Rosé would perform under the stars. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 8 Nov. 2026

An outdoor lounge island and floating stone pavers frame the central courtyard’s reflecting pool. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 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