English Reference
noun

roadway

n.
US /ˈɹoʊdˌweɪ/ UK /ɹˈəʊdweɪ/ road·way UK spelling roadway's, roadway's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the main part of a road where cars and trucks drive.

    the central portion of a road or highway specifically designed for and used by vehicles.

    Simple

    The car broke down and blocked the entire roadway for an hour.

    In context

    Debris from the construction site spilled onto the roadway, creating a significant hazard for evening commuters.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    any path or way that is used as a road.

    a general term for a path, track, or route used for travel.

    Simple

    The new roadway connects the small village to the main highway.

    In context

    The proposed roadway would cut through the valley, significantly reducing travel time between the two industrial hubs.


From Middle English rodeway, radewey (attested in radewey-stile (literally “roadway-stile”)), equivalent to road + way; road had the early sense of "riding" when the compound was formed, thus originally "a way for riding on".

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English *rodeway
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated