Underground Railroad

noun

variants or less commonly Underground Railway

: a system of cooperation among active antislavery people in the U.S. before 1863 by which people escaping enslavement were secretly helped to reach the North or Canada

Examples of Underground Railroad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While some had theories, including speculations of the site serving as an Underground Railroad route, researchers found little evidence to back those ideas up. —Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026

History buffs can venture to the remnants of the Todd House, believed to be part of the Underground Railroad. —Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026

On top of that, the Underground Railroad entrance already makes the common wall less stable. —Roberta Brandes Gratz, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

Detroit's role in the Underground Railroad is being brought to life for a new generation while highlighting the city's place as a critical gateway to freedom for thousands fleeing slavery. —Rachelle Graham, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Underground Railroad

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad

Kids Definition

Underground Railroad

noun

: a system of cooperation among active antislavery people in the U.S. before 1863 by which people escaping enslavement were secretly helped to reach the North or Canada