railway

noun

rail·​way ˈrāl-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)
Synonyms of railwaynext
: railroad
especially : a railroad operating with light equipment or within a small area

Examples of railway in a Sentence

a system of railways that crisscrosses the whole nation
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 number is too close to the railway station, so everyone keeps calling for train times. Alice Burton, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026 Authorities stated that the railway was shut down temporarily so emergency response, fire suppression, vehicle removal and a full inspection of the tracks could take place. Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026 Travelers at a railway station in Nanjing, China, on Friday. Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026 Her jokester father worked for a railway; her realtor mother was a gifted mimic whose impressions of clients enlivened family dinners. The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for railway

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of railway was in 1681

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railway. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

railway

noun
rail·​way ˈrā(ə)l-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on railway

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