a government building that houses the offices of a county government
"The new courthouse serves as the central hub where all county government offices are located."
a building that houses judicial courts
"The lawyer walked into the courthouse to present her case before the judge."
A public building housing courts of law.
"The lawyer walked into the courthouse to present her case before the judge."
In plain English: A courthouse is a building where legal cases are heard and judges make official decisions about laws.
"She parked her car outside the courthouse before going inside to file her papers."
Usage: Do not confuse this term with "court," which refers specifically to the legal room or proceedings rather than the entire building complex. In casual conversation, people often use "courthouse" metonymically to mean the judicial system itself, though this is technically imprecise.
The word courthouse is a straightforward compound formed from the words court and house. It simply describes a building where legal courts are held.