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

Synonyms of railway

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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.
Denver is the latest of nearly a dozen municipalities to publicly express its support for the railway. — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 14 July 2026 Many of the world’s longest railway bridges are not dramatic river crossings but rather vast viaducts spanning floodplains, wetlands, farmland, and densely populated regions to provide stable routes for high-speed trains. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026 In Southern California, cliffs could erode more than 130 feet by the end of the century, and the consequences of erosion have already proved to be severe on major roads, railways and other critical infrastructure. — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 The royal visited a school, rode a funicular railway, played crazy golf, talked to fishermen about the threat of warming seas, won a charity polo match and topped it all off with a family visit to Wimbledon. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 14 July 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

Phrases Containing railway

Rhymes for railway

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Browse Nearby Words

rail-water
railway
railwayac
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Cite this Entry

“Railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railway. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on railway

Nglish: Translation of railway for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about railway

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