railway

noun

rail·​way ˈrāl-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)
Synonyms of railwaynext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most of the railroad town was out of work and struggling during the 1922 railway strike. George Motz, Southern Living, 6 May 2026 Abel walked shareholders through efforts to improve its railway and insurance businesses, and the inclusion of Berkshire’s other executives was also reassuring to investors. Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 May 2026 The high-speed railway Californians approved almost $10 billion in bonds to build has turned into a $128 billion project, and not a single track has been laid. Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Further along, the train climbs to the Bernina Pass, one of the highest railway crossings in Europe. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for railway

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of railway was in 1681

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railway. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

railway

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

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