railway

American  

[reyl-wey] / ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

railways plural

1. a rail line with lighter-weight equipment and roadbed than a main-line railroad.

2. a railroad, especially one operating over relatively short distances.

3. Also called trackway.  any line or lines of rails forming a road of flanged-wheel equipment.

4. Chiefly British. railroad.

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railway British  

/ ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. a permanent track composed of a line of parallel metal rails fixed to sleepers, for transport of passengers and goods in trains

2. any track on which the wheels of a vehicle may run

   a cable railway

3. the entire equipment, rolling stock, buildings, property, and system of tracks used in such a transport system

4. the organization responsible for operating a railway network

5. (modifier) of, relating to, or used on a railway or railways

   a railway engine

   a railway strike

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interrailway
  adjective
• prerailway
  adjective
• railwayed
  adjective
• railwayless
  adjective
• unrailwayed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• railways
  plural

Etymology

Origin of railway

First recorded in 1770–80; rail ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

The crash happened on the Strathspey Railway, a heritage railway run separately from mass-transit public services, and involved a stationary carriage and another train in the station.

From Barron's • Jun. 20, 2026

And then he retraced his steps across the 150-foot wide thoroughfare that knifes through the heart of the city along what once was the Red Car line of the Pacific Electric Railway.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026

East Midlands Railway has confirmed two of its trains were involved in the collision.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

Southern Railway said there were no services between Purley and East Croydon and also urged customers not to travel.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

At the hanging of his friend, convicted killer Tom Horn, he made national headlines by stepping up to the gallows and belting out “Life’s Railway to Heaven.”

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• line
• rail line
• track