archway

American

[ahrch-wey] / ˈɑrtʃˌweɪ /

noun

Architecture.

an entrance or passage under an arch.
a covering or enclosing arch.

archway British

/ ˈɑːtʃˌweɪ /

noun

a passageway or entrance under an arch or arches

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of archway

First recorded in 1795–1805; arch ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In front of the double archway of the Kapikoy border crossing, Iranians come and go, rolling suitcases.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

“Every corner reveals authentic detail that tells its own story—from the original French doors to the handcrafted archway and copper screens that stand strong a century later.”

From MarketWatch • Oct. 13, 2025

Gochez and volunteers constructed an installation of brightly colored piñatas decorating an archway.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2025

The blue plaque has been fixed to an archway on Walker Street in the Wicker area of Sheffield.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2025

As I reach the stooped archway into the pub, I notice a small door tucked into an alcove.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023