crosswalk

American  

[kraws-wawk, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌwɔk, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

1. a lane marked off for pedestrians to use when crossing a street, as at an intersection.

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crosswalk British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌwɔːk /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): pedestrian crossing.  a path across a road marked as a crossing for pedestrians See also zebra crossing pelican crossing

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Etymology

Origin of crosswalk

First recorded in 1735–45; cross- + walk

Explanation

A crosswalk is a marked walkway across a road or street. Crosswalks make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street. Another term for a crosswalk is a "pedestrian crossing," a path for people to use when they cross the street. Some crosswalks are simply painted lines on the road, while others have traffic signals that show you when it's safe to cross. The earliest, 18th century version of a crosswalk was a path in a garden that cut across other paths, and by the 1850s it meant "pedestrian crossing."

Example Sentences

Similar efforts have appeared in Koreatown, where a group of activists painted a crosswalk at an intersection where a 9-year-old boy was fatally struck by a vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Occasionally, she’d draw and share illustrations, such as of a crosswalk sign and a bald eagle she had spotted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

In a particularly poignant moment, Beverly Shelton — or “Grandma Beverly,” as she prefers— spoke teary-eyed about her grandson, Zachary Michael Cruz, who was killed in a Berkeley crosswalk 17 years ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2026

“We all get a little bit exasperated when we see somebody shooting a video on a crosswalk holding a pumpkin,” Cole said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

I ask her when we come to a stop at a crosswalk.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

• bridge
• crossroad
• intersection
• junction
• overpass
• passage