beltway

noun

belt·​way ˈbelt-ˌwā How to pronounce beltway (audio)
Synonyms of beltwaynext
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

Examples of beltway in a Sentence

Her influence extends beyond the Beltway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Wekiva River Parkway and Protection Act of 2004 authorized construction of a beltway around Central Florida, also known as State Road 429, while imposing strict protections for the environmentally fragile Wekiva River basin. Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026 Members of Congress exist in the cosseted Beltway bubble, enjoying special treatment and services their constituents do not. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 25 Mar. 2026 An extension of Paris’ tramlines — which shadow the beltway from the inside and now form an almost-complete ring around the city — has also given people who live in Paris’ outer boroughs their own alternative. Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026 Missing morning coffee runs or rushing into staff meetings late because of delayed or canceled trains persuades more and more residents to risk the soul-crushing traffic of the D.C. beltway. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beltway

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beltway was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Beltway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beltway. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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