1
: a little traveled side road
2
: a secondary or little known aspect or field
meandering more and more in the fascinating byways of learning—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)Examples of byway in a Sentence
I prefer to take byways to town.
He's traveled the highways and byways of this country.
the byways of the art world
The book chronicles some of the interesting byways of legal history.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the famous byway out front, a large white Route 66 emblem is painted on the road.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
The scenic byway of Smugglers' Notch outside Stowe is particularly popular, with plenty of spots to pull over and hike or picnic among the trees.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Linking peaks in the United States will require Jornet to bike on two-lane highways, backroads with truck traffic, and other byways that may not be safe for cyclists.
—Jayme Moye, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
When to Go The best time to drive the North Shore scenic byway is in the fall when the weather has cooled and the fall colors start to pop.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byway
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Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
The scenic byway of Smugglers' Notch outside Stowe is particularly popular, with plenty of spots to pull over and hike or picnic among the trees.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Linking peaks in the United States will require Jornet to bike on two-lane highways, backroads with truck traffic, and other byways that may not be safe for cyclists.
—Jayme Moye, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
When to Go The best time to drive the North Shore scenic byway is in the fall when the weather has cooled and the fall colors start to pop.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for byway
Cite this Entry
“Byway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/byway. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
byway
noun
by·way
ˈbī-ˌwā 
: a little-traveled side road
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