railway

[reyl-wey]

noun

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 rail forming a road of flanged-wheel equipment.

4. Chiefly British.,  railroad.

railway

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of railway¹

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

Example Sentences

Propped up in her hospital bed, railway conductor Olha Zolotova speaks slowly and quietly as she talks about the day her train was hit by a Russian drone.

Read more on BBC

As well as targeting the power network, Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine's railways.

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"Electrocution and railway collisions cause a significant number of elephant fatalities, while mining and highway construction disrupt habitats, intensifying man-wildlife conflicts," the report added.

Read more on Barron's

"We are relentless in our pursuit to hold these offenders to account and ensure the railway network is a safe place to be for everyone."

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Kai, 70, was born and raised in China and drafted into the People’s Liberation Army as a railway soldier at age 15.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• line 
• rail line www.thesaurus.com
• track