courtyard

American  

[kawrt-yahrd, kohrt-] / ˈkɔrtˌjɑrd, ˈkoʊrt- /

noun

• courtyards
  plural

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

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courtyard British  

/ ˈkɔːtˌjɑːd /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• courtyards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of courtyard

First recorded in 1545–55; court + yard ²

Explanation

A courtyard is an area outside a building that's framed and somewhat enclosed by walls. Your friend might ask you to meet her in the courtyard of her apartment complex. In cities, courtyards provide small, private outdoor areas. Courtyards are often nestled between buildings, or tucked away behind them. For nearly as long as people have built houses and buildings, courtyards have existed — although in the past, they were used for keeping animals, cooking over an open fire, and sometimes even sleeping. The word dates from the 1550s, combining court, from the Latin cohors, "enclosed yard," and yard, from a Germanic root also meaning "enclosure."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

courtyard courtyards

Archeological enquiries at the site in recent years have discovered that the outlines belonged to a long, narrow building which once stood on the lawn and linked two sides of a medieval courtyard.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Outside, the parcel is lined with dozens of palm trees to ensure complete privacy, while a dramatic gated courtyard provides an idyllic place to relax away from prying eyes.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

He was speaking from the shaded courtyard garden of his Mayer am Pfarrplatz heuriger, down the steps from the room where Beethoven stayed while composing part of the Ninth Symphony.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

Developers also advertised a lush, landscaped central courtyard that was a part of the original factory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

And when I get back to Tatarska 3, I can hear Mrs. Bessermann from the courtyard.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

So people buried their loved ones in courtyards, at playgrounds and on street corners.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

Looming over the colorless town is its hulking circa-1385 monastery, extended in convent courtyards and stately chapels with lofty naves, offering dazzling displays of stained glass.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Opening in 2028, the Broad expansion will contain 70% more gallery space, two outdoor courtyards, a live programming space and views of the museum’s art storage vault.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Formal living and dining spaces flow easily onto shaded terraces and courtyards, reinforcing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that has long defined Palm Springs living.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 5, 2026

Modest white outside walls crowned with slanting tile decorations gave no hint of the elaborate courtyards and inner living quarters that were hidden like pearls in their oyster shells.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Related Words

• lawn
• patio
• yard