1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

curtilage

noun

Definition of curtilagenext
as in yard

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of curtilage Trees and walking paths delineate the curtilage with typical Japanese elegance. — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 The curtilage includes native sandstone boulder walls and a simple landscape of native and adaptive plants that enhance and preserve the woodland habitat. — Mark David, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2023 In legal parlance, curtilage refers to land attached to a house, like a yard or garden. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2019 The Supreme Court long has recognized that privacy interests are heightened within the home, with precedents that limit police intrusions not only into structures but also the immediately surrounding property, known as the curtilage. — Jess Bravin, WSJ, 29 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtilage
  1. yard
  2. courtyard
  3. enclosure
  4. patio
  5. quadrangle
  6. court
  7. close
Noun
  • Leading 7-3 at halftime, Wheaton Warrenville South (4-2) scored on its first two drives of the second half to go up 21-3 on Rogers’ 6-yard pass to Blake Ittersagen and a 15-yard run by Malaki Thomas.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Trojans have yielded 10 yards per pass attempt this season and now could be without starter Alex Graham, who’s listed as questionable.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of yard
Noun
  • Many of the rooms have private entrances and are dotted around a courtyard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Glass sky bridges connect the boxy pavilions, while inward-facing courtyards bring light into the house.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of courtyard
Noun
  • For example, our interns this summer helped put up a deer enclosure around our sugarbush.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Aluminum targets tougher battery demands The coated aluminum can be used for battery enclosures and casings, where corrosion protection can help improve component durability.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of enclosure
Noun
  • Sit outside on the patio overlooking the pool and enjoy the delicious Cal-Pacific cooking, like the bulgogi burger with umami fries, bibimbap bowl and seared salmon with shimeji mushrooms in a coconut-lemongrass broth.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Multilevel decks and a beautiful stone patio further blend interior and exterior spaces.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of patio
Noun
  • Each of those quadrangles of land can produce 7 million pounds of corn or 2 million pounds of soybeans in a summer.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 July 2026
  • The students are lined up in their hundreds− across the student center mezzanine, down the stairs and out into the hot Florida Spring of the quadrangle.
    — Will Carless, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of quadrangle
Noun
  • Cazares’ far-off next court date, not until 2028, is not atypical, Meinecke said, given the backlog of cases in the fallout of the blitz.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In March, the Trail Blazers were sold for $4 billion, while state and local lawmakers recently agreed on hundreds of millions in funding for a $600 million renovation of the Blazers’ home court.
    — Brian Malarkey, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of court
Noun
  • All net proceeds were donated to charities that support and advocate for women and girls, and as the evening came to a close, Melinda Gates matched the $10 million already raised and brought the total to $20 million.
    — Karla Cote, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Commanders will be desperate in their home opener after dropping two divisional games on the road and Dan Quinn’s game plan will be to keep this close.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of close

Browse Nearby Words

curtains (off)
curtilage
curtilages
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curtilage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtilage. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All