railway

noun

rail·​way ˈrāl-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)
: railroad
especially : a railroad operating with light equipment or within a small area

Examples of railway in a Sentence

a system of railways that crisscrosses the whole nation
Recent Examples on the Web The airline is helping rebook passengers or is offering them railway vouchers as an alternate mode of transportation, the airline’s spokesperson said. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 This changed during the railway boom of the 1830s and the period of industrialization that followed. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Both films deal with liminal spaces, as the couples connect in crowded railway stations, the Staten Island Ferry, and lunch halls. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 Edmonton’s equivalent of a grand railway abode is the majestic Hotel Macdonald, which overlooks the river. Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In the aftermath of the accident, several labor unions and others had said private ownership of major railways often leads to over-emphasis on exorbitant profits and lack of regard for people and towns along the railroad lines. Michael Collins, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2024 The city is still working with local landowners, one of the largest being the BNSF railway, to acquire the real estate needed to complete the project. The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2024 An example presented by my friend in his Facebook post: the father is standing at a railway platform with his young son, the author of the book, who is only nine years old. Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 Once at the end of the railway now forming New York’s High Line, St. John’s Terminal served as a freight facility and office space. Christy Choi, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'railway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of railway was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near railway

Cite this Entry

“Railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railway. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

railway

noun
rail·​way ˈrā(ə)l-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on railway

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