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

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Etymology

Origin of courtyard

First recorded in 1545–55; court + yard ²

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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

The week ended in style with a fashion show, “Le Grand Dogwalk,” held in the courtyard of the dog-friendly Hôtel Alfred Sommier, a 19th-century former mansion where rooms now start at about $695 a night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

"But a Turning Point representative insisted that Kirk speak at a campus courtyard because he had been there previously and the organisation was familiar with the location," it adds.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Philippe now lives in the house with his family, and although the concrete exterior remains intact, the rooms and the courtyard have been remodeled around their own aesthetics and routines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

The property comes complete with a private courtyard and a two-car garage that has an elevator.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

Mrs. Bessermann is in the courtyard, nicely dressed with a bag over one arm, having a friendly conversation with Mrs. Krajewska.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

The Sterling Law Building was designed to evoke England’s historic Inns of Court, complete with soaring stone archways, stained-glass windows, carved oak interiors, tranquil courtyards, and communal spaces intended to foster scholarly community.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

To protect worshippers from the extreme heat, authorities rely on one of the most powerful air conditioning systems in the world to cool the Grand Mosque's courtyards, according to Saudi state television.

From Barron's ● May 25, 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

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

Citizens were afraid to leave their homes, or even to venture into their courtyards.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks

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Related Words

• lawn
• patio
• yard

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