What does roadway mean?
A roadway is a route used by vehicles or a clearly defined part of a larger road system. It may refer to a public road, an approach to a bridge or tunnel, or the traffic-carrying surface within a complex of divided roads. The word is especially common in transport planning, engineering, legal writing, and official announcements, where it helps distinguish a travelable route from the land beside it. In everyday British English, road is often more usual, while carriageway can be preferred when the separate sides of a divided road need to be distinguished. Roadway is also found in American usage, particularly in descriptions of highways, streets, and traffic conditions. Its wording is generally neutral and descriptive rather than literary or emotional.
nounA road or a defined strip of a road used by vehicles. The term can refer to an entire route or to the part of a larger road system intended for traffic.
- A road or part of a road used by vehicles.
- A defined route or stretch within a larger transportation or developed area.
"The new bridge carries traffic across the roadway without interfering with the railway below."
"Drivers were warned of ice on the roadway."
"The project will create a wider roadway for cyclists and pedestrians."
The plural is formed by adding -s and is used when referring to multiple routes or sections of road.
"The town has several narrow roadways connecting its residential areas."
The word roadway literally combines road and way, two Old English terms that together describe a route for travel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does roadway come from?
Roadway is a compound formed from road and way. Both elements descend from Old English: road from rād, meaning a journey or route, and way from wæg, meaning a path or course. The compound developed in English during the medieval period and came to emphasize a route or passage used for travel.
How roadway is actually used
In American English, roadway is especially common in official, technical, and transport-planning contexts. In British English it is also used, though road and carriageway may be preferred in some contexts.
Easily confused with roadway
A roadway is a route or strip used by vehicles, whereas a roadside is the area or edge beside a road.