gateway

American  

[geyt-wey] / 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.

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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

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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

The United Arab Emirates, long Tehran’s gateway to global commerce and finance, has pledged to crack down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

It’s been her gateway to new friendships, a walking group, brunches and even a regular happy hour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

The town is the main gateway for trade between Myanmar and Thailand, and has always had a large, though fluctuating Burmese population.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

In addition to orchestrating different AI models, the AI Control Tower is now increasingly serving as a gateway to vet nonhuman identities.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 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

Adding to the complexity, companies now need to protect the data networks that serve as gateways to critical infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

Nearly every system, from banking apps to payment gateways, relies on encryption to function.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

TRPV4 is part of a family of ion channels that function like tiny molecular gateways in sensory nerve cells.

From Science Daily ● May 10, 2026

There was a courtyard, and high steps, and gateways, and at every point bears in armor challenged the incomers and were given a password.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman