often attributive
1
: a highway skirting an urban area
2
Beltway
: the political and social world of Washington, D.C., viewed especially as insular and exclusive
… understanding better than Beltway insiders what really interests voters …—
L. I. Barrett
L. I. BarrettExamples of beltway in a Sentence
Her influence extends beyond the Beltway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Currently, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is undertaking a 38-mile construction project on I-695, aimed at reducing peak periods of traffic congestion along the beltway by adding a part-time shoulder use (PTSU).
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
In recent days, as Netflix became an increasingly serious contender to take over the storied, century-old studio home to the The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, and The Lord of the Rings, the service faced pushback both within Hollywood’s 30-mile zone and inside the Washington beltway.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Hersh had deep sources at the epicenter of the Washington beltway.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
This could be a political master stroke: a chance to appear like a savvy dealmaker above the swampy beltway fray, while keeping the back pocket option to withhold or rescind agreed-to funding later.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beltway
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Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
In recent days, as Netflix became an increasingly serious contender to take over the storied, century-old studio home to the The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, and The Lord of the Rings, the service faced pushback both within Hollywood’s 30-mile zone and inside the Washington beltway.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Hersh had deep sources at the epicenter of the Washington beltway.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
This could be a political master stroke: a chance to appear like a savvy dealmaker above the swampy beltway fray, while keeping the back pocket option to withhold or rescind agreed-to funding later.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beltway
Cite this Entry
“Beltway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beltway. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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