road sign

American  

[rohd sahyn] / ˈroʊd ˌsaɪn /

noun

1. a sign posted over or next to a road or highway, as to guide or caution motorists, indicate speed limits or distances, advertise nearby services, etc..

   A road sign showed 150 km to Paris.

   We passed a road sign indicating construction ahead.

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Etymology

Origin of road sign

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

“It’s heartbreaking because it’s a road sign that we are going backwards.”

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Mount Vernon, about 40 miles northeast of Columbus, greets visitors with a road sign declaring “America’s hometown.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

But the first road sign on the two-lane highway announcing your arrival in the town name-checks only the Lady Giants, the 2021 state champions.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2025

One asked what a driver should do when seeing a road sign that says “NEV USE ONLY” or “NEV ROUTE.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2024

Cotton was lining up bricks along the edge of the road, and Lenny was swinging a baseball bat at rocks that hit the road sign with a clang.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor