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

From here, passengers can step off the gangway and begin exploring Tromsø on foot within minutes. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Courts 4, 5, and 6, which sit side by side with gangways between 4 and 5 and 5 and 6, became the place to be, along with Tsitsipas’ assignment on 7. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

That means no gangways, no crew spaces, no ventilation, no stores, no controls, and no bridge. —David Szondy august 13, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025

Florida In Nassau County, several people suffered minor injuries after a large gangway collapsed July 4 at the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina, the Florida Times-Union, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 8 July 2025

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!