Byway
noun
A secondary or less important road or path, often not as smooth or well-constructed as main roads.
They took the scenic route and travelled through the byways instead of the main highway.
Often appears as...
- scenic byway
- travel by byway
noun
A branch or sideline of an area of knowledge or activity, often referring to a lesser-known or unusual aspect that is distinct from the mainstream.
His research led him into obscure byways of the history of philosophy.
Often appears as...
- obscure byways
- byways of history
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A secondary or less important road or path, often not as smooth or well-constructed as main roads.
They took the scenic route and travelled through the byways instead of the main highway.
Often appears as...
- scenic byway
- travel by byway
noun
A branch or sideline of an area of knowledge or activity, often referring to a lesser-known or unusual aspect that is distinct from the mainstream.
His research led him into obscure byways of the history of philosophy.
Often appears as...
- obscure byways
- byways of history
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Travel Exploration
Use 'byway' to describe a less-traveled route which can be scenic and adventurous.
We discovered hidden gems while driving down old byways.
Pro Tip 2/3Less Mainstream
'Byway' often means a choice away from the popular or easy path, in travel and situations.
Choosing a career in art over business was her way of taking a byway.
Pro Tip 3/3Contrast with Main
Contrast 'byway' with main roads to emphasize its secondary nature and potential uniqueness.
Instead of the freeway, we took the byway to see the countryside.
Pro Tip 1/3Travel Exploration
Use 'byway' to describe a less-traveled route which can be scenic and adventurous.
We discovered hidden gems while driving down old byways.
Pro Tip 2/3Less Mainstream
'Byway' often means a choice away from the popular or easy path, in travel and situations.
Choosing a career in art over business was her way of taking a byway.
Pro Tip 3/3Contrast with Main
Contrast 'byway' with main roads to emphasize its secondary nature and potential uniqueness.
Instead of the freeway, we took the byway to see the countryside.
Pro Tip 1/3Travel Exploration
Use 'byway' to describe a less-traveled route which can be scenic and adventurous.
We discovered hidden gems while driving down old byways.
Pro Tip 2/3Less Mainstream
'Byway' often means a choice away from the popular or easy path, in travel and situations.
Choosing a career in art over business was her way of taking a byway.
Pro Tip 3/3Contrast with Main
Contrast 'byway' with main roads to emphasize its secondary nature and potential uniqueness.
Instead of the freeway, we took the byway to see the countryside.
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Quote examples
Andrew O'Hagan
Scottish Novelist
The working class of England take their deracination completely for granted. Disenchantment is the happy code that informs every byway of the underclass: service jobs, celebrity dreams, Lotto wins, leisured poverty on pre-crunch credit cards, it's all there, part of the story of an English people whose grandparents never had it so good.
Quote examples
Robert Gottlieb
American Writer
One of the odder byways of nonfiction is the dishy memoir by those who have served the great or the near-great.
Quote examples
Andrew O'Hagan
Scottish Novelist
The working class of England take their deracination completely for granted. Disenchantment is the happy code that informs every byway of the underclass: service jobs, celebrity dreams, Lotto wins, leisured poverty on pre-crunch credit cards, it's all there, part of the story of an English people whose grandparents never had it so good.
Quote examples
Robert Gottlieb
American Writer
One of the odder byways of nonfiction is the dishy memoir by those who have served the great or the near-great.
Example 1 of 2
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