railway

American  

[rayl-way] / ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

• railways
  plural

1. a rail line with lighter-weight equipment and roadbed than a main-line railroad.

2. a railroad, especially one operating over relatively short distances.

3. Also called trackway. any line or lines of rails forming a road of flanged-wheel equipment.

4. Chiefly British. railroad.

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railway British  

/ ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. a permanent track composed of a line of parallel metal rails fixed to sleepers, for transport of passengers and goods in trains

2. any track on which the wheels of a vehicle may run

   a cable railway

3. the entire equipment, rolling stock, buildings, property, and system of tracks used in such a transport system

4. the organization responsible for operating a railway network

5. (modifier) of, relating to, or used on a railway or railways

   a railway engine

   a railway strike

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interrailway
  adjective
• prerailway
  adjective
• railwayed
  adjective
• railwayless
  adjective
• unrailwayed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• railways
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of railway

First recorded in 1770–80; rail ¹ + way ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

railway railways

Just last month, travel on the railway was partially shuttered because of high tides, which came just weeks after a temporary closure in September due to erosion and slope damage following a strong Pacific storm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

"We have made significant changes to how we manage the risk of severe weather since the accident and to increase the resilience of Scotland's railway."

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Later that night he boarded a train from the city's railway station, headed towards London.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

Those points might represent cities, PCs, subway stations, or organs, while the connections could stand for highways, cables, railway lines, or blood vessels.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

He meant that we shall have an open mind, and not let a little bit of truth check the rush of a big truth, like a small rock does a railway truck.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

“To have two fatal crashes on the same line suggests there are management failings on the railways system in Spain.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

But Wednesday's accident comes after another collision between two high-speed trains outside the southern village of Adamuz in January left 46 dead, which raised major questions about safety on the country's railways.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

Train cancellations and speed restrictions are possible because of the increased danger of branches and trees blocking railways.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Almost two centuries after the Exeter train delay, solar storms continue to pose risks to railways and other essential infrastructure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

Land has been cut by roads, railways, and dams into smaller, isolated spaces.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

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Related Words

• line
• rail line
• track

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