sidewalk

American  

[sahyd-wawk] / ˈsaɪdˌwɔk /

noun

1. a walk, especially a paved one, at the side of a street or road.

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sidewalk British  

/ ˈsaɪdˌwɔːk /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): pavement.  a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians alongside and a little higher than a road

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Etymology

Origin of sidewalk

First recorded in 1660–70; side ¹ + walk

Explanation

A sidewalk is a paved path for walking, often alongside a road. If your neighborhood has sidewalks, it's easier and safer to take a little jog. While English speakers in other parts of the world might use words like footpath or pavement instead, North Americans typically use sidewalk. Most sidewalks are slightly higher than the street and are often separated from them by a curb or a strip of grass. There is some historical evidence that Ancient Greece had sidewalks, though the word itself dates from about 1740.

Example Sentences

Giannoulias, who pushed for the law after he said he and his young daughters were almost struck by an e-moto on a sidewalk, said he wasn’t trying to snuff out a fledgling form of transportation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

The two women, mother and daughter, sat on a mattress covering half the sidewalk on the shady side of Western Avenue, still shivering in the morning chill.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

A makeshift memorial has been erected on the sidewalk in front of the centre's gates and police cars still patrol the area surrounding the southern California institution.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Light from an old marquee shines on the sidewalk, trumpeting the evening’s main event in all caps: “‘Miles Davis: A Century of Cool,’ opening Saturday.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Fifth Street wasn’t nearly as busy as it had been in the morning, which oddly made me feel even more conspicuous on the sidewalk.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• boardwalk
• pavement
• walkway