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courtyard

American  
[kawrt-yahrd, kohrt-] / ˈkɔrtˌyɑrd, ˈkoʊrt- /

noun

  1. a court open to the sky, especially one enclosed on all four sides.

courtyard British  
/ ˈkɔːtˌjɑːd /

noun

  1. an open area of ground surrounded by walls or buildings; court

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of courtyard

First recorded in 1545–55; court + yard 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fans could previously wed at courtyards and ballrooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, at the Disneyland Hotel ballroom, in the Fantasyland Faire Garden and at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle Forecourt.

From Los Angeles Times

He was in the courtyard, a square of grass surrounded by tables and chairs and a few barbecue grills and even a waterfall, which was pretty nice.

From Literature

Lush trees, flowering plants, and shaded courtyards frame the two-story property, whose centerpiece is a sparkling walk-in pool with direct access from lower-floor rooms and balconies overlooking the courtyard.

From Salon

Norway's royal house has long been known for its openness and there is no big gated courtyard in front of the palace.

From BBC

Inside was a courtyard and a vast, sun-warmed building, eighteen windows across and five high.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.