backyard
|back-yard|
🇺🇸
/ˈbæk.jɑrd/
🇬🇧
/ˈbæk.jɑːd/
enclosed area behind a house
Etymology
'backyard' is a compound of the English words 'back' + 'yard'; 'back' (Old English 'bæc') meant 'the rear part' and 'yard' (Old English 'geard') meant 'enclosure' or 'enclosed area'.
'back' and 'yard' were Old English words ('bæc' and 'geard') that in Middle English appeared in similar forms and later combined in Early Modern English to form the compound 'backyard' (sometimes written as 'back-yard').
Originally a literal term for an enclosed area at the rear of a dwelling; over time it retained that primary meaning and also developed figurative senses such as 'local area' or 'small-scale/domestic operation'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an area of ground at the back of a house, often used for recreation, gardening, or storage.
They had a small vegetable patch in the backyard.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
situated at or relating to the back yard of a house; also used figuratively to describe something local, small-scale, or informal (e.g., 'backyard operation').
They run a backyard workshop repairing bikes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/26 11:36