beltway

noun

belt·​way ˈbelt-ˌwā 

often attributive

1

: a highway skirting an urban area

2

Beltway : the political and social world of Washington, D.C., viewed especially as insular and exclusive

… understanding better than Beltway insiders what really interests voters …

—L. I. Barrett

Examples of beltway in a Sentence

Her influence extends beyond the Beltway.

Recent Examples on the Web

High housing costs in Charlotte, Raleigh and other urban centers are pushing residential and industrial growth beyond inner beltways and into surrounding counties, including Cabarrus, Rowan, Johnston, Alamance and York, South Carolina. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

Ryle recommends taking the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana beltway to avoid delays. — Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2026

Over 85% of federal employees live outside of the Washington, DC, beltway, with states like Florida, Texas and California hubs for more than 100,000 workers each, government data shows. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

And that car then made a corner and slammed into a concrete jersey barrier on the beltway. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beltway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beret