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 Patients recounted bullets whizzing by in the hospital courtyard. Frances Robles, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 The space leads to a central corridor with views onto the courtyard. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2024 The custom triplex has multiple large common spaces, including an upper-level lobby, which provides access to the upper two units, a stone-walled courtyard and stairs to the living roof. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 An imposing rectory, designed by David Rockwell, rotates to accommodate the putative principal’s office and a serene courtyard where the conversations are ex parte. Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Private courtyards and balconies are planned for residents to take advantage of the weather. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 The sets by David Rockwell alternate between Aloysius’s office and a church courtyard, and when combined with Linda Cho’s costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lighting, and the subject matter itself, everything feels dark and grey — like a permanent cloud hovering overhead. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Photo : Phil Mansfield View from a circular cutout in the concrete wall of the sunken courtyard. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 Casa started in the fall of 2011 in a 700 square-foot room in a restaurant’s courtyard at 21st and J streets with an enrollment of 25 students. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'courtyard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of courtyard was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near courtyard

Cite this Entry

“Courtyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courtyard. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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