pedestrian crossing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal in official contexts; informal in everyday use.
Quick answer
What does “pedestrian crossing” mean?
A designated, marked place on a road where pedestrians may cross, typically having special traffic signals or priority markings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A designated, marked place on a road where pedestrians may cross, typically having special traffic signals or priority markings.
Any physical infrastructure intended to facilitate safe pedestrian movement across a vehicular roadway.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, specific types are named (e.g., zebra crossing, pelican crossing, puffin crossing). In the US, 'pedestrian crossing' is understood but 'crosswalk' is the primary everyday term.
Connotations
UK: A standard, official term in traffic law and signage. US: Slightly more formal or technical than 'crosswalk'; often used in official documents or by law enforcement.
Frequency
Far more frequent in UK English. In US English, 'crosswalk' is the dominant term.
Grammar
How to Use “pedestrian crossing” in a Sentence
cross at the pedestrian crossingwait by the pedestrian crossinginstall a pedestrian crossingthe pedestrian crossing is locatedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pedestrian crossing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Noun only]
American English
- [Noun only]
adverb
British English
- [Noun only]
American English
- [Noun only]
adjective
British English
- [Noun only, but can be used attributively as in 'pedestrian crossing regulations']
American English
- [Noun only, but can be used attributively as in 'pedestrian crossing signal']
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like urban development or retail location planning (e.g., 'The new store requires a pedestrian crossing outside.')
Academic
Used in urban planning, transportation studies, and civil engineering papers.
Everyday
Common in giving directions, discussing road safety, or complaining about traffic (e.g., 'There's no pedestrian crossing near the school.')
Technical
Precise term in traffic engineering, highway codes, and legal statutes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pedestrian crossing”
- Using 'pedestrian cross' or 'pedestrians crossing' (the -ing form) to refer to the facility itself. It is a compound noun: 'pedestrian crossing'.
- In US contexts, overusing 'pedestrian crossing' when 'crosswalk' sounds more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In meaning, yes. 'Crosswalk' is the common term in American English, while 'pedestrian crossing' is standard in British English. 'Pedestrian crossing' can also be an umbrella term for various types (zebra, pelican, etc.).
Rules vary. At a 'zebra crossing' (black and white stripes) in the UK, vehicles must give way to pedestrians on or waiting to cross. At signal-controlled crossings, vehicles must stop on a red light.
No. A pedestrian crossing specifically refers to a ground-level crossing of a roadway. A bridge is a 'footbridge' and an underpass is a 'subway' or 'underpass'.
A 'zebra crossing' has flashing orange belisha beacons and black/white stripes; pedestrians have priority. A 'pelican crossing' (PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled) has traffic lights controlled by a pedestrian push-button.
A designated, marked place on a road where pedestrians may cross, typically having special traffic signals or priority markings.
Pedestrian crossing is usually neutral to formal in official contexts; informal in everyday use. in register.
Pedestrian crossing: in British English it is pronounced /pəˌdestriən ˈkrɒsɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˌdestriən ˈkrɔːsɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not typically idiomatic]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PEDESTRIAN (a person walking) needing to CROSS the road. They use a PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. The word itself is very literal.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAFETY IS A DESIGNATED PATH; CROSSING THE ROAD IS A TRANSITION THROUGH DANGER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a specific type of pedestrian crossing in the UK?