schoolyard

noun

school·​yard ˈskül-ˌyärd How to pronounce schoolyard (audio)
plural schoolyards
: the area next to or surrounding a school where students typically play games or sports
He organized a marbles tournament that could take place only in the schoolyard during recess.Jerry Spinelli
… there was a schoolboyish quality to the way he did it—as if he were trying to show that he was the biggest, toughest boy in the schoolyard.Elizabeth Drew
often used before another noun
schoolyard games
a schoolyard bully

Examples of schoolyard in a Sentence

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.
At his best, Jokić is the schoolyard bully who pummels his way through even the most aggressive of children. Kelly Iko, New York Times, 19 May 2025 Children develop their identities in the schoolyard, shaping their academic, social and emotional trajectories. Oliver Harrison, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Just one year later, Keene landed a lead role as the schoolyard bully named Janey in the Royal Court Theatre’s production of E.V. Crowe’s Kin. Air Mail, 26 Apr. 2025 At one point, cinematographer Adib Sobhani’s camera cranes up above the schoolyard, showing students and parents separated by a fence that Aliyar accidentally locked. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for schoolyard

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of schoolyard was in 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Schoolyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schoolyard. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

schoolyard

noun
school·​yard
-ˌyärd
: the playground of a school

More from Merriam-Webster on schoolyard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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