fairway

American  

[fair-wey] / ˈfɛərˌweɪ /

noun

fairways plural

1. an unobstructed passage, way, or area.

2. Golf.

   1. the part of the course where the grass is cut short between the tees and the putting greens, exclusive of the rough, trees, and hazards.

      More important than long drives is keeping your ball on the fairway.

   2. the mowed part of any hole between the tee and the green.

      The foursome is now on the tenth fairway.

3. Nautical.

   1. the navigable portion of a river, harbor, or other partly enclosed body of water.

   2. the channel customarily navigated by vessels in such a body of water.

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fairway British  

/ ˈfɛəˌweɪ /

noun

1. (on a golf course) the areas of shorter grass between the tees and greens, esp the avenue approaching a green bordered by rough

2. nautical

   1. the navigable part of a river, harbour, etc

   2. the customary course followed by vessels

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fairways
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fairway

1515–25; 1905–10 fairway for def. 2; fair ¹ + way ¹

Explanation

The fairway is part of a golf course, close to the tee. A fairway provides golfers with the easiest surface for hitting the ball. A golf course fairway is distinguished by its short, even grass and location between the tee and the green. It's a fairly simple area from which to hit the ball. Another meaning of fairway shares this easy, effortless quality: a regular, well-known course that a ship takes through the water. In the 1580s, fairway was used to mean "navigational channel of a river," and it gained the golfing sense at the end of the 19th century.

Example Sentences

PGA Tour data from the Genesis showed virtually all the men played down the left fairway.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

On a day that will be remembered for a pair of long putts, Rai also went bogey free over the final 10 holes because he missed only one fairway in that span.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

After also being forced to wait on the fairway, McIlroy stuck his approach to the green well below the hole and exasperatedly moaned about how long he was having to wait between shots.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

The accidental discovery resulted in Mr. Peper’s purchase of a small townhouse with a perfect view of the North Sea and fairway grass.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

That afternoon, the quad becomes a fairway with the booths made by all the classes.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina