backyard

1 of 2

noun

back·​yard ˈbak-ˈyärd How to pronounce backyard (audio)
1
: an area at the rear of a house
2
: a nearby area : neighborhood
crimes committed in our own backyard

backyard

2 of 2

adjective

: located or occurring in a backyard
a backyard barbecue
also : lacking professional training : amateur
a backyard breeder

Examples of backyard in a Sentence

Noun We spent the evening relaxing in the backyard. shocked to learn that the wind farm would be right in our own backyard Adjective an orchid that is a favorite with backyard horticulturists
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
After discovering several caterpillars in her backyard, Lawson decided to raise monarch butterflies in her garden as well. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 One bedroom on the main level has an en suite bathroom, a retreat space, a private entry from the backyard and a walk-in closet. Monica Lander, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 After raising her family in New Hampshire, Ms. Raven – who lives in Merrimack County – began letter-writing campaigns and demonstrations to boost awareness of climate change in her backyard. Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 In Dallas, Texas, Gaia's life was confined to a tiny backyard, because her loyal owner, Sandra, was hospitalized. David Begnaud, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2024 On their last night, the team sat around a bonfire in the backyard. Billy Witz, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Rachel’s family hosted a pig roast in their backyard. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Lessons from the city’s first ‘net-zero’ accessory dwelling unit March 5, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EST In the spring of 2020, Aurora Ferrari looked at the plot of land sandwiched between her D.C. backyard and an alley, and saw potential. Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 The group cut their own path to build an audience by skirting small venue shows in new markets for better paying, better attended backyard parties. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2024
Adjective
So, how did these once-elusive forest dwellers become backyard birds in only a few decades? Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2024 He’s designed and constructed about 250 of them, ranging from backyard follies to a monumental work in response to the 2011 tsunami to a jungle perch with views of Angkor Wat in Cambodia (created for a commercial for the Japanese lottery). Tom Vanderbilt Josh Robenstone, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023 Learn how to improve the health and productivity of backyard citrus trees. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 In November, the CDC recommended that people who interact with birds that look sick – even in backyard flocks – should wear disposable gloves, boots, eye protection and an N95 respirator or a face mask. Jen Christensen, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023 This is not some squabble over the backyard fence or even long-simmering animosities. Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2023 Paint a pallet a summery color, then mount it to a sturdy surface, such as the wall of a garden shed or a backyard fence. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 At home, most Santa Marians slice the meat into thick steaks to cook on a backyard-style Santa Maria grill (santamariagrills.com). Sunset Magazine, 1 July 2022 He was attracted to the backyard view of the buttress, which looks more like a lush hillside than a strategy to keep landslides at bay. Hannah Frystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backyard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1719, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backyard was in 1618

Dictionary Entries Near backyard

Cite this Entry

“Backyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backyard. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

backyard

noun
back·​yard
-ˈyärd
1
: an area in back of a house
2
: an area in which one has a special interest

More from Merriam-Webster on backyard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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