gateway

American  

[gayt-way] / ˈgeɪtˌweɪ /

noun

• gateways
  plural

1. an entrance or passage that may be closed by a gate.

2. a structure for enclosing such an opening or entrance.

3. any passage by or point at which a region may be entered.

   New York soon became the gateway to America.

4. Digital Technology.

   1. software or hardware that connects two disparate computer networks, as to enable the passage of information between a home or business network and the internet.

   2. software that facilitates digital communication of text messages over cellular telephone networks.

---

adjective

1. relating to or noting an ingested substance, habit, activity, etc., that is relatively free of bad effects but may lead to more dangerous or extreme choices.

   sweet gateway drinks that mask the taste of alcohol;

   gateway gadgets that seem simple enough, but tempt you to buy expensive accessories.

gateway British  

/ ˈɡeɪtˌweɪ /

noun

1. an entrance that may be closed by or as by a gate

2. a means of entry or access

   Mumbai, gateway to India

3. (modifier) allowing entry, access, or progress to a more extreme form

   gateway drug

   gateway drink

4. computing hardware and software that connect incompatible computer networks, allowing information to be passed from one to another

5. a software utility that enables text messages to be sent and received over digital cellular telephone networks

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gateways
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gateway

First recorded in 1700–10; gate ¹ + way ¹

Explanation

A gateway is an opening or entrance of a gate that swings open and shut. People also use the word gateway to describe the entryway into anything, like school could be your gateway to opportunity. Study hard. Gateways are similar to doorways, with the obvious difference being the gate that you open to pass through, rather than a door. You can also use this word in a figurative way, to mean "entrance," or "means of access." For example, you could say, "That huge bank building is the gateway to the city's financial district," or "Delhi is the gateway to South Asia."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gateway gateways

But that gateway, it turns out, is more like a gate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Jebel Ali serves as a gateway to the Middle East as well as a transshipment hub connecting Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Though Thornton says on her website that the medbeds will be free, she and her impersonators also serve as a gateway to the many ways you can currently spend money on medbeds.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Disruption in the strait could cause Egypt to feel the pinch too, as the Red Sea serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal, upon which Cairo relies for crucial foreign revenue.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

There was shoving and jostling as if this were the ultimate haven, the gateway to life.

From "Night" by Elie Wiesel

He has tried to fortify the land, closing off gateways, putting in concrete blocks or piles of logs, and digging rows of deep ditches to make it undrivable.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

The findings reveal that simply opening ocean gateways between Antarctica, South America, and Australia was not enough to create it.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 7, 2026

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach share a space and compete against other global gateways, Hacegaba said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 13, 2026

In a statement it said it would analyse whether the two "act as important gateways between businesses and consumers, despite not meeting the DMA gatekeeper thresholds for size, user number and market position".

From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025

“There are but five known gateways to the Underland,” said Vikus.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins