courthouse

noun

court·​house ˈkȯrt-ˌhau̇s 

1

a

: a building in which courts of law are regularly held

b

: the principal building in which county offices are housed

2

: county seat

Examples of courthouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The couple get married in a secret ceremony at a New York City courthouse. —Stacey Leasca, Glamour, 21 Jan. 2025

Mayers caused a minor stir at the courthouse Tuesday, dressed sharply in a long black leather trench coat and surrounded by security. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025

The incoming White House team has had years to plan for the fights that are sure to take place in the circuit’s headquarters, a 120-year-old Beaux-Arts courthouse in downtown San Francisco. —Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Neither man acknowledged a reporter who asked the two men questions after the entered the courthouse. —Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

courthouse

noun

court·​house ˈkō(ə)rt-ˌhau̇s 

ˈkȯ(ə)rt-

: a building in which courts of law are held or county offices are located

Legal Definition

courthouse

noun

court·​house

: a building in which court is regularly held