# junction

/ˈdʒəŋkʃən/ (US) · /dʒˈʌŋkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/junction
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. roads or railways

noun · CEFR B1

a place where two or more roads or railway lines meet.

For teachers: a point where multiple transport routes, such as roads or railway lines, meet or cross. In British English, it specifically refers to a motorway exit or intersection.

- Take the first exit at the next junction to stay on the main road.
- The proposed development is situated near a major motorway junction, providing excellent logistical links for the new distribution centre.

Usage: Often used with 'at' to describe a location.

### 2. joining together

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of joining two things together, or the point where they are joined.

For teachers: the act of joining or the state of being joined; the physical interface between two distinct parts or materials.

- The junction between the two pipes was leaking slightly.
- The structural integrity of the bridge depends on the strength of the junction where the steel cables meet the concrete pylons.

Teaching tip: This sense is more abstract and formal than the transport sense; learners should use 'joint' for simple physical objects like furniture.

### 3. electronics

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a point where two or more electrical wires or parts of a circuit are connected.

For teachers: a point or area where multiple conductors or semiconductors make physical contact, allowing the flow of current.

- Check the junction box to see if any wires have come loose.
- The efficiency of the solar cell is determined by the properties of the p-n junction where the two semiconductor layers meet.

## Examples

- Turn left at the next junction.
- The driver missed the motorway junction and had to continue to the next exit ten miles away.
- The town grew rapidly during the nineteenth century because it served as a major railway junction connecting the industrial north with the southern ports.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.