gateway

American  

[geyt-wey] / ˈgeɪtˌweɪ /

noun

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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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

That invitation begins at mile 18, where the Yaqui Pass Road turnoff leads northeast toward the desert basin and the gateway community of Borrego Springs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Richards said: "K-Pop was definitely my gateway into Korean culture, which I think it is for a lot of people."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

The recurring pattern in prestige outlets that go for deep access, immersive detail and an emphasis on personality as a gateway into subculture carries risks that are now well understood.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

Stuck indoors during the pandemic, Brundage turned to spending long hours on Minecraft, a build-your-own-world videogame that, for many, is a gateway into programming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

I leaned against the gray stone gateway to the cemetery where Hassan had buried his mother.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini