WordGarden.iofootpath
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈʊtpɑːθ/
US
- /ˈfʊtˌpæθ/
Meanings
Noun
a path or trail meant for people walking
a paved pedestrian strip beside a road; a sidewalk
Beyond the definition
A footpath is a path made for people to walk on. You often find one in the countryside, through woods, across fields, or beside a river. It gives walkers a clear way to move through a place without using the road. People use it to explore nature, get exercise, or enjoy a quiet walk away from traffic.
In British English, the word can also mean a paved path at the side of a road. If you are hiking in the English countryside, you will probably spend a lot of time on footpaths. The word is especially common in British English.
A footpath is a path meant for walking rather than for cars or other vehicles. It may be a narrow dirt trail through a forest, a track across open land, or a paved way beside a road. The main idea is simple: it is a route for people on foot. In many cases, especially in British English, the word is used for places where walkers have their own space and do not have to share with traffic.
The word often brings to mind the countryside. You can picture a path running over hills, through woods, past farms, or along the coast. In that setting, a footpath helps people move through the landscape safely and enjoy the natural world at a slower pace. Some footpaths are short and local, while others are part of longer walking routes.
The word can also be used in towns and cities for a paved path at the edge of a road. In this sense, it is close to what American English usually calls a sidewalk. You may also hear about a "public footpath," especially in the UK, which means a path that people have a legal right to use. So whether you are out for a country walk or moving along a street on foot, a footpath is the kind of path that guides walkers from one place to another.
Examples
- 1
Nature walk
We followed the footpath through the woods until we reached the lake.
- 2
Path rules
Please keep to the footpath so you don't damage the plants.
- 3
Map reading
The map shows several footpaths across the hills.
- 4
Public access
The farmer had to leave the public footpath open across his land.
- Phrasepublic footpath
a path that everyone is legally allowed to use
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- footpathnoun
Forms
- footpathspluralnoun