schoolyard

noun

school·​yard ˈskül-ˌyärd How to pronounce schoolyard (audio)
plural schoolyards
: the area next to or surrounding a school where students typically play games or sports
He organized a marbles tournament that could take place only in the schoolyard during recess.Jerry Spinelli
… there was a schoolboyish quality to the way he did it—as if he were trying to show that he was the biggest, toughest boy in the schoolyard.Elizabeth Drew
often used before another noun
schoolyard games
a schoolyard bully

Examples of schoolyard in a Sentence

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.
At that time, Ochoa was working on the campus as a schoolyard duty. Richard Ramos, CBS News, 28 May 2026 Many incidents began over misbehavior such as dress-code violations, vaping or schoolyard scraps. Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026 Peters suspended classes, but the virus had already moved beyond his schoolyard. Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 What was once street play and schoolyard competition now carries the weight of a national dream. Ricci Shryock, NPR, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for schoolyard

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of schoolyard was in 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Schoolyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schoolyard. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

schoolyard

noun
school·​yard
-ˌyärd
: the playground of a school

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