stairway

American  

[stair-wey] / ˈstɛərˌweɪ /

noun

1. a passageway from one level, as of a building, to another by a series of stairs; staircase.

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stairway British  

/ ˈstɛəˌweɪ /

noun

1. a means of access consisting of stairs; staircase or flight of steps

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Etymology

Origin of stairway

First recorded in 1790–1800; stair + way ¹

Example Sentences

While the beach is accessible via a nearby public stairway, the agency argues that route is insufficient for the disabled or, for instance, those with strollers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

After an initial ascent, Harrop was neck-and-neck with Fatton as the pair took off their skis to climb a stairway on foot.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Afterward, in a stairway, he said, “What are you going to do when you leave?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Work on decorative details, sculptures and a stairway leading to the building's main entrance is expected to continue over the next decade.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025

I watch them walk under a rounded doorframe and descend a stairway leading into a huge auditorium the size of a football field.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• staircase
• stairwell