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scrapyard

American  
[skrap-yahrd] / ˈskræpˌjɑrd /

noun

  1. a business with a large space, including outdoor space, to store items or parts purchased from customers for resale as raw material.

    The carmaker sold more than 5,700 pounds of reclaimed copper wire to the scrapyard.


Etymology

Origin of scrapyard

First recorded in 1860–65; scrap 1 ( def. ) + yard 2 ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Her brother, John, who runs the family scrapyard, is equally brusque.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

"What is waste to us became something valuable in his hands," scrapyard owner Bostan Khan told AFP.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

"Don't be afraid to fail," says one woman from Bristol who has gone from working part-time in a scrapyard, to creating a successful beauty brand in just four years.

From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2025

Matthew Weisenberg provided her and an inspector from the local air district with an internal report suggesting a tank had exploded within the scrapyard, Alvarez said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2024

Police said the 65-ton tank was found abandoned in a scrapyard near a military base.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023

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