alaska highway: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Geographic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “alaska highway” mean?
A major highway connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska, passing through western Canada.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major highway connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska, passing through western Canada.
A historic and strategically important road built during World War II, also known as the ALCAN Highway, representing a feat of engineering and a vital land route through remote northern wilderness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, as the highway is a specific North American geographic entity.
Connotations
In the US, it is strongly associated with American frontier history and military logistics. In Canada and the UK, it may be viewed more as a notable feature of North American geography.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its connection to US state of Alaska.
Grammar
How to Use “alaska highway” in a Sentence
[verb] + the + Alaska Highway (e.g., construct, follow, traverse)the + Alaska Highway + [verb] (e.g., runs, connects, winds)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alaska highway” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Alaska Highway project was monumental.
- They embarked on an Alaska Highway adventure.
American English
- The Alaska Highway construction was rapid.
- We planned an Alaska Highway road trip.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in logistics, tourism, or construction related to the region.
Academic
Used in historical, geographical, engineering, and military studies contexts.
Everyday
Used in travel planning and discussions about road trips, geography, or North American history.
Technical
Used in civil engineering, transportation planning, and historical military logistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alaska highway”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alaska highway”
- Using lower case ('alaska highway'), forgetting 'the' ('drive on Alaska Highway'), confusing it with other roads like the Dalton Highway.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, and ends in Delta Junction, Alaska, USA.
It was built by the United States Army during World War II as a strategic overland supply route to Alaska, fearing a Japanese invasion.
Yes, it is a fully paved public highway and a popular route for road trips, though conditions can be challenging in remote sections.
No, most of its length (approximately 1,387 miles / 2,232 km) is actually in Canada (British Columbia and Yukon).
A major highway connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska, passing through western Canada.
Alaska highway is usually formal / geographic / historical in register.
Alaska highway: in British English it is pronounced /əˈlæskə ˈhaɪweɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈlæskə ˈhaɪˌweɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a car with ALASKA plates driving on a VERY LONG HIGHWAY through mountains and forests.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIFELINE through the wilderness; a RIBBON of civilization.
Practice
Quiz
What is another name for the Alaska Highway?