courtyard

noun

court·​yard ˈkȯrt-ˌyärd How to pronounce courtyard (audio)
: a court or enclosure adjacent to a building (such as a house or palace)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Busosanseong served as a political and cultural hub during Baekje’s golden era, and featured ornate palaces, courtyard terraces, and Buddhist temples. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025 All the girls’ rooms were upstairs, opening off a balcony that circled a large inner courtyard, so everyone could see everyone, a panopticon nobody wanted in ugly cream vinyl tile. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 Further up the avenue, Claudie channels the South of France, complete with a bubbling fountain in its picturesque courtyard, while across the street, seductive spot Felice dishes up excellent pasta and tiramisu. Sara Liss, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025 Another said the noise would echo through the courtyard like an amphitheater. Clio Chang, Curbed, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for courtyard

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of courtyard was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Courtyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courtyard. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

courtyard

noun
court·​yard -ˌyärd How to pronounce courtyard (audio)
: a court or enclosure next to a building

More from Merriam-Webster on courtyard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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