The areas of land behind houses, typically owned by the residents and often used for recreation or gardens.
From 'back' (Old English) + 'yard' (Old English 'geard,' enclosed space). The compound emerged as homes developed defined private spaces, particularly in North America where larger properties made backyard space common.
The backyard is fundamentally an American invention—in most of the world's history, people didn't have private outdoor space connected to their homes. The cultural rise of the backyard in the 20th century marks a shift toward privacy, leisure, and a relationship with nature as personal property.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.