backyard

1 of 2

noun

back·​yard ˈbak-ˈyärd How to pronounce backyard (audio)
Synonyms of backyardnext
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

Synonyms of backyard

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Noun

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
And whether your plans involve a big backyard cookout or a quiet afternoon on the porch, there’s no reason the drinks need to be complicated. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Well, there must not be anymore grass to touch as the feeds returned on Saturday evening with many of the houseguests in the backyard appearing to be waiting for the Power of Veto competition to begin. — Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The almost 27-minute-long trailer features a whirlwind of gameplay to expect at launch in November, including car chases, heists, and robberies, plus various side missions such as scuba diving, weightlifting, and maybe even backyard wrestling. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 When times are uncertain, Americans have turned to backyard gardening. — Hank Tester, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for backyard

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

Rhymes for backyard

See All Rhymes for backyard

Browse Nearby Words

backy
backyard
backyarder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backyard. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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