What does parkway mean?
A parkway is a broad road, often landscaped and sometimes divided, that runs through a park or serves as a major route through an urban area. The word is particularly common in North American English, where it may refer to a road with limited access, multiple lanes, and a relatively green or park-like character. In contexts where a city has a named network of major roads, “parkway” can function as a more specific or evocative alternative to “road” or “highway.” It is not simply another word for a park: the parkway is the route itself, while a park is the recreational area associated with it. The term can be formal in planning, transport, and infrastructure discussions, but it also has an everyday familiarity, especially in descriptions of city driving and residential neighborhoods.
nounA broad, usually divided or landscaped road, especially one leading through a park or through the outskirts of a city. The term can also refer more generally to a major urban road or expressway.
- A broad, landscaped road, especially one running through a park or urban area.
- A major road or expressway, particularly one with limited access and a divided carriageway.
"They drove along the parkway as the city lights shimmered beyond the trees."
"The parkway was lined with mature trees and separated the downtown district from the river."
"Traffic on the parkway slowed sharply after the accident near the interchange."
Used when referring to multiple parkways or to a network of named urban roads.
"The city connects the northern parkways with a series of overpasses."
The word once described a road laid through a park; today it often signals a broad, green, traffic-carrying route through the heart of a city.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parkway come from?
Parkway is a compound formed from “park” and “way.” Its original sense referred to a road or path through a park, and the word later broadened to describe broad landscaped or major urban roads. It is related in meaning to “park” and “way” because those elements remain transparent in the modern word.
How parkway is actually used
The word is especially common in North American English and is often used for a landscaped urban expressway. In British usage, it is less frequent and may sound informal or American, and context can determine whether it means a road through a park or a major urban thoroughfare.
Easily confused with parkway
A park is an area of land for recreation and public enjoyment, whereas a parkway is a road, often one running through or alongside such an area.
A highway is a major road connecting cities or regions, while a parkway is more specifically associated with landscaped surroundings, urban areas, or roads through parks.