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Definition of courtyard

courtyard

/ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
court · yard
Plural:courtyards
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courtyard Lexical Profile

courtyard Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An unroofed area that is completely or mostly enclosed by the walls of a building or a group of buildings, such as a house, castle, or apartment complex.

Example

"The residents gathered in the central courtyard to enjoy the evening breeze around the stone fountain."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for courtyard

• Nearby Words

courtroom
courtship
courtside
courtyard
couscous
cousin
couth

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 16th century as a pleonastic compound combining 'court' (from Old French 'cort', meaning an enclosed space or yard) and 'yard' (from Old English 'geard', meaning an enclosure or garden).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Courtyard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/courtyard
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