roadwork: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Technical (construction)
Quick answer
What does “roadwork” mean?
Construction, maintenance, or repair work carried out on roads, streets, or highways.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Construction, maintenance, or repair work carried out on roads, streets, or highways.
Also refers to athletic training, especially for boxers or long-distance runners, consisting of sustained running on roads.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the construction sense, usage is identical in both dialects. The athletic training sense is more commonly used in American English (AmE), though understood in British English (BrE).
Connotations
Primarily negative for drivers (delays, detours). Neutral or positive in a sporting context (discipline, fitness).
Frequency
High frequency in general spoken English during periods of infrastructure maintenance; lower frequency in written formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “roadwork” in a Sentence
[roadwork] on [the M1 motorway][roadwork] causing [delays]do [roadwork]be delayed by [roadwork]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “roadwork” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The roadwork delays are extensive.
- A roadwork schedule has been published.
American English
- The roadwork project will last all summer.
- Roadwork signage must be clear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Potential delays in logistics and commuting; often mentioned in traffic reports.
Academic
Rare; may appear in civil engineering or urban planning contexts.
Everyday
Common in conversation to explain traffic or detours.
Technical
Used in construction, civil engineering, and municipal planning documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “roadwork”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “roadwork”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “roadwork”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a roadwork'). It is generally uncountable: 'There is roadwork on my street.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'roadwork' is typically an uncountable (mass) noun. You do not say 'a roadwork' or 'three roadworks'. You refer to it as a general activity: 'There is roadwork on my street.'
'Roadwork' is a specific type of construction focused solely on roads, streets, and highways. 'Construction' is a much broader term for building any structure.
Yes. In American English particularly, it can refer to athletic training involving long-distance running on roads, common in boxing and running.
In British English, it is pronounced /ˈrəʊd.wɜːk/, with the stress on the first syllable 'road' and a distinct 'w' sound starting the second part.
Construction, maintenance, or repair work carried out on roads, streets, or highways.
Roadwork is usually informal, technical (construction) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Roadwork ahead, prepare to stop.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WORK crew blocking the ROAD.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROADWORK IS AN OBSTACLE / IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context can 'roadwork' have a positive connotation?