junkyard

American  

[juhngk-yahrd] / ˈdʒʌŋkˌyɑrd /

noun

1. a yard for the collection, storage, and resale of junk.

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junkyard British  

/ ˈdʒʌŋkˌjɑːd /

noun

1. a place where junk is stored or collected for sale

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Etymology

Origin of junkyard

An Americanism first recorded in 1875–80; junk ¹ + yard ²

Explanation

A junkyard is a place where garbage is kept, especially scrap metal, until it's sold. Most of the trash in a junkyard can be reused or recycled. Piles of rusted metal and smashed bodies of old cars are common sights at a junkyard. The word clearly comes from the junk, or trash, that's stored there — and although it is undeniably junky, it's also got some value to companies that recycle metal. Junkyards are also called "wrecking yards" or "scrapyards." A "junkyard dog" is a guard dog that keeps watch overnight in case thieves try to steal valuable metal.

Example Sentences

The next Junkyard Jouvert is set for Sept. 7.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2024

The God's Own Junkyard warehouse in Walthamstow, north-east London, is now home to the largest collections of neon signs and sculpture outside the US.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2023

“I racked my brain on a way to salvage Saturn, but it was just too far gone and too expensive and difficult to develop for,” Mr. Stolar told the blog The Dreamcast Junkyard in 2018.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2022

Bickerstaff ramped up the canine connection last weekend by awarding a bejeweled "Junkyard Dog" chain to Isaac Okoro for his shut-down defense in a win over Washington.

From Fox News • Mar. 1, 2022

After a pre-show prayer that invoked Junkyard Band’s “Sardines,” the camera cut to Hall in a Beyoncé'-like cape and crown and marching band, similar to the opening of “Homecoming.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 24, 2019

Related Words

• depot