byway

noun

by·​way ˈbī-ˌwā How to pronounce byway (audio)
1
: a little traveled side road
2
: a secondary or little known aspect or field
meandering more and more in the fascinating byways of learningThe 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
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.
Waitsfield After passing through Hancock, Route 100 technically ends, but keep going for a few more miles on the Mad River Byway, which is also a part of the scenic byway. Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025 Circle of Destination Motel, Escalante, Utah Escalante’s classic Circle D Motel, newly rechristened Circle of Destination, takes advantage of its location on Utah’s spectacular Highway 12 scenic byway to create an inviting home base for rugged adventure. Melanie Haiken, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025 Crowds are minimal, accommodation low-key and reasonably priced, and crisp mornings turn hiking trails and scenic byways into a near-secret. AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025 The byway not only has scenic views but a rich history. Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for byway

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of byway was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Byway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/byway. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

byway

noun
by·​way ˈbī-ˌwā How to pronounce byway (audio)
: a little-traveled side road

More from Merriam-Webster on byway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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