courtyard

American  

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

noun

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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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

The lounging space also offers “direct access” to the outdoor courtyard.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Lines to the courthouse in the early days of the trial snaked through the jasmine-scented courtyard in the Bay Area’s always-gloomy early mornings.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

When Vinay was a child, father and son would play cricket in the courtyard.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

A courtyard ringed by a brick wall anchors the buildings, and neighbors are invited to paint on it.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

At the door to the courtyard the matron turned, erect and impassive, back along the corridor.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• lawn
• patio
• yard