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byway

American  
[bahy-way] / ˈbaɪˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a secluded, private, or obscure road.

  2. a subsidiary or obscure field of research, endeavor, etc.


byway British  
/ ˈbaɪˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a secondary or side road, esp in the country

  2. an area, field of study, etc, that is very obscure or of secondary importance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of byway

1300–50; Middle English bywey. See by (adj.), way 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

They’re on a highway headed toward Santa Fe, N.M., though it soon becomes evident that they’re also on the road to reconciliation — that byway many indie-film families travel in order to heal.

From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

The next morning, two from Hallow’s Eve, Miss Pam arrives at a back gate at Lumen Field, strutting down a byway between two 20-yard television trucks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2024

The incident happened at about 20:40 BST on the byway heading to Whaddon Lane near the rugby club.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2023

The Appalachian Trail cuts through Maryland for 40 miles, offering many opportunities for hikers who want to experience a portion of the storied byway.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 7, 2022

When the Southern California ministers were really whipping their congregations into a froth, they would get rolling on the subject of “the Road to Hell,” a byway that ran south from San Diego.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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