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Definition of wayside

wayside

/ˈweɪ.saɪd/
way · side
Plural:waysides
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wayside Lexical Profile

wayside Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The edge or margin of a road or path, especially used figuratively in phrases denoting neglect or abandonment.

Example

"Many of their ambitious early plans fell by the wayside once budget constraints became apparent."

Synonyms
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• adjective

1

Situated, growing, or found along the side of a road or path.

Example

"The tired travelers rested at a small wayside inn before continuing their journey through the valley."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wayside

Word Nuance & Usage

In modern usage, the noun appears almost exclusively in the idiom 'to fall by the wayside' (or 'go by the wayside'), meaning to be abandoned, neglected, or fail to continue.

• Rhymes for wayside

• Nearby Words

wayne
waynesboro
waypoint
wayside
waystation
wayward
waywardly

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'way' (road, path) and 'side', popularized in figurative use by the translation of the Parable of the Sower in the King James Bible (1611), where seeds that fell by the wayside failed to take root.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wayside. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wayside
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