backyard
bak-YAHD
Backyard (noun) means an outdoor area behind a house, often used for gardens, play, or relaxing. Example: “The kids spent the whole summer playing in the backyard.”
noun
1
An outdoor area behind a house, often used for gardens, play, or relaxing.
"The kids spent the whole summer playing in the backyard."
"We grow tomatoes and beans in our small backyard behind the house."
"On warm evenings, they sit in the backyard and watch the birds."
2
A person's immediate local area or a country's sphere of interest and influence.
"The senator argued the crisis was happening in America's own backyard."
"Residents did not want a new power station built in their own backyard."
"Nobody wants a rubbish tip in their backyard, even if the town needs one."
How to use backyard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe outdoor space behind a home, or more broadly, someone's immediate territory or area of concern.
Common pairings
in my own backyard
backyard barbecue
backyard garden
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Word forms
- Plural
- backyards
Fill the gap
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The kids spent the whole summer playing in the _____.
Etymology
From back + yard, meaning the yard situated behind a house rather than in front.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for backyard
yard
bayard
lanyard
vineyard
junkyard
farmyard
barnyard
shipyard
courtyard
graveyard
churchyard
schoolyard
See all rhymes for backyard →
Frequently asked questions
What does “backyard” mean?
The word “backyard” means an outdoor area behind a house, often used for gardens, play, or relaxing. In plain terms, the outdoor space behind a home, or more broadly, someone's immediate territory or area of concern.
How do you pronounce “backyard”?
“Backyard” is pronounced bak-YAHD (/bækˈjɑːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “backyard” in a sentence?
Here is “backyard” used in a sentence: “The kids spent the whole summer playing in the backyard.”
What part of speech is “backyard”?
“Backyard” is a noun.
Is “backyard” a common word?
“Backyard” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “backyard” have?
“Backyard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outdoor area behind a house, often used for gardens, play, or relaxing.
What is the difference between a backyard and a garden?
In American English, a backyard is the outdoor area behind a house, whether paved, grassed, or planted, while British English usually calls that same private space the "garden." Americans tend to reserve "garden" for a planted area, so an American backyard may contain a garden.
Is "backyard" one word or two?
As a noun meaning the area behind a house, it is usually written as one word, "backyard." The two-word form "back yard" also appears, but the single word is the more common modern spelling in American English.
What is the figurative meaning of "backyard"?
Beyond the space behind a house, "backyard" can mean a person's immediate local area or a country's sphere of influence, as in "instability in the region is seen as a threat in America's backyard." This sense stresses closeness and a sense of territory.
