beltway

American  

[belt-wey] / ˈbɛltˌweɪ /

noun

1. Also called belt highway.  a highway around the perimeter of an urban area.

2. the Beltway, the Washington, D.C., area within the highway that encircles it.

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beltway British  

/ ˈbɛltˌweɪ /

noun

1. the usual US name for a ring road

2. (usually with capital)

   1. the people and institutions located in the area bounded by the Washington Beltway, taken to be politically and socially out of touch with the rest of America and much given to political intrigue

   2. ( as modifier )

      Beltway Cassandras

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Etymology

Origin of beltway

First recorded in 1950–55; belt + way ¹

Example Sentences

But warm words and familiarity do not pay for lunch along the Washington beltway.

From BBC

Swapping a beltway bon vivant for the so-called Prince of Darkness is, however, a risk.

From BBC

So now I have to actually tell truckers the height or the clearance of the tunnel and direct them to the other side of the beltway.

From New York Times

Completed in 1977, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a practical, final link to the beltway of roads that circled Baltimore Harbor, a much-needed solution to reduce Harbor Tunnel congestion.

From New York Times

"American support to Taiwan cannot be limited to the beltway," Hsiao said, referring to the Washington political scene.

From Reuters

Related Words

• artery
• highway
• interstate
• road
• superhighway
• thoroughfare