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

They have refused his requests to install a unit in the courtyard of his building in the Marais, a bustling neighborhood in central Paris.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Hundreds of organizers, supporters and residents convened in the stone courtyard of City Hall around 6 p.m.

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

"The tickets are out of price. If they were cheaper, of course I would go. But now we're gonna watch the game in the courtyard with my husband and friends," she added.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026

But I slow down, make myself trudge past the well and into the courtyard, shoulders hunched, like I’ve had a long night at work.

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

Public transport connects almost every corner of this tiny country, lush greenery lines the highways and spills out of towering buildings and courtyards, while the pavements are wide, often sheltered, and free of litter.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 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