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 lush greenery in the leafy inner courtyard will be replaced with plants more closely related to those of the late Pleistocene, such as cypress and toyon.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 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

Highlights of the main house include an inner courtyard, a chef’s kitchen, and a spacious primary suite with an office and private terrace.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

The meadow led up to white stone steps, rising to an immense, flagstoned courtyard.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• lawn
• patio
• yard