gangway

noun

gang·​way ˈgaŋ-ˌwā 

1

: passageway

especially : a temporary way of planks

2

a

: either of the sides of the upper deck of a ship

b

: the opening by which a ship is boarded

c

: gangplank

3

British : aisle

4

a

: a cross aisle dividing the front benches from the backbenches in the British House of Commons

b

: an aisle in the British House of Commons that separates government and opposition benches

5

: a clear passage through a crowd

—often used as an interjection

Examples of gangway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trio — clad in all black with a hint of leopard print — were pictured walking on a gangway in a series of stylish outfits, with Kim, 44, and Jenner, 69, opting for all-black outfits, while Khloé stood out in a leopard print catsuit and black heels. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 27 June 2025

Fun fact: The new trains feature an open gangway, meaning a person standing inside the train at the back can see all the way to the front. —Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

The gangway passed four safety inspections since 2022, DNR said in a statement on Thursday. —Ray Sanchez, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024

At least seven people were killed in a freak accident Saturday, after the gangway of a ferry dock in Georgia collapsed, according to local authorities. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "raised walkway on a ship," apparently from gang entry 1, in northern and Scots sense "passage" + way entry 1

Note: There is no continuity between this usage, first attested in 1688, and Old English gangweg, attested once.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gangway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

gangway

noun

gang·​way ˈgaŋ-ˌwā 

1

: a passage into, through, or out of an enclosed place

2

: gangplank

3

: a clear passage through a crowd

—often used as an interjection

Gangway! Coming through!