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

Inside is a courtyard with an underlit swimming pool and a line of parked supercars—Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, and Bugattis. —Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Assisi’s centro storico is compact enough to explore thoroughly on foot, with artisan shops, hidden courtyards, and the elegant Piazza del Comune. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026

The five-bedroom estate is arranged around a central pool courtyard, creating a private interior world of gardens, shaded terraces and open-air gathering spaces. —Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

There's also a garden/courtyard for coffee, snacks and drinks—a gorgeous space in the warmer months. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 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