1. A large inn or hostel with a central courtyard, traditionally built in Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries to provide lodging and shelter for traveling merchants and their caravans.
Usage: Also spelled caravansary.; Historical and cultural term; commonly found in travel and history contexts.

Examples

• The merchants stopped at a caravanserai to rest their camels and trade goods.
• The ancient caravanserai featured a large courtyard surrounded by rooms for travelers.
• Along the Silk Road, caravanserais served as vital rest stops for long-distance traders.
• The caravanserai provided protection and supplies for caravans crossing the desert.
• Many historic caravanserais in Iran and Turkey have been preserved as cultural monuments.
• The architecture of the caravanserai reflected the needs of nomadic merchants and their animals.