railway
railway Lexical Profile
railway Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A track consisting of parallel steel rails laid on ties, along which trains transport passengers and freight.
"The government announced a massive infrastructure project to electrify the national railway."
An entire transport system or operating company that encompasses the tracks, stations, trains, and personnel required for train operation.
"She was employed as a structural engineer by the state railway for over two decades."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English and across most Commonwealth nations, 'railway' is the standard term, whereas 'railroad' is the preferred terminology in American English.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 1770s as a compound of 'rail' and 'way', originally referring to tracks made of wood or iron used for horse-drawn carts in mines before the advent of steam locomotives.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.