Word
beltway
Phoneticsbelt·way, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɛɫtˌweɪ/
UK/bˈɛltweɪ/
Definition
n. a major highway or a group of highways that form a loop around a large city. It is also used to describe the people who work in a specific area, like politics.
n. a major highway or a system of highways forming a loop around a large urban area. In a figurative sense, it refers to the group of people who work in a specific industry or political environment.
Examples
“The traffic on the beltway is always heavy during rush hour.”
“Commuters often take the beltway to avoid the congestion of the city center during the morning commute.”
“The candidate's campaign struggled to gain traction outside the beltway, as her message resonated more with urban voters than with the suburban electorate.”
Examples
simple
“The traffic on the beltway is always heavy during rush hour.”
contextual
“Commuters often take the beltway to avoid the congestion of the city center during the morning commute.”
complex
“The candidate's campaign struggled to gain traction outside the beltway, as her message resonated more with urban voters than with the suburban electorate.”
Real-World Examples
“The road runs 25 miles in northern Virginia from the Capital Beltway to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, with two lanes in each direction.” Etymology
From belt + way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/beltway