freeway

English

Interstate 80/580 is a major freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Etymology

free +‎ way

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfɹiː.wei/, enPR: frēwā
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːweɪ

Noun

freeway (plural freeways)

  1. (Australia, Canada, US) A road designed for safe, high-speed operation of motor vehicles through the elimination of at-grade intersections, usually divided and having at least two lanes in each direction; a dual carriageway with no at-grade crossings, a motorway.
    • 1983, David Brodsly, L. A. Freeway: An Appreciative Essay‎, page 1:
      Contrary to what one might expect of an essay on freeways, this one is neither a diatribe nor a paean.
    • 2008, Derek Hayes, Canada: An Illustrated History‎, page 257:
      In the late 1950s and 1960s most large cities started planning freeway systems, acknowledging the incredible growth in car ownership.
    • 2010, Robert Freestone, Urban Nation: Australia′s Planning Heritage‎, page 161:
      The Australian freeway story of the late twentieth century, like many planning stories, can be told as one of high technical expectations dashed by political controversy.
  2. A toll-free highway.

Usage notes

In Australian usage, the term freeway is sometimes avoided for toll roads. For high-speed roads where tolls apply, terms such as tollway and motorway may be used.

Synonyms

  • fwy (abbreviation)

Derived terms

  • fwy (abbreviation)

Translations

Further reading

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