viaduct

noun

via·​duct ˈvī-ə-ˌdəkt How to pronounce viaduct (audio)
: a long elevated roadway usually consisting of a series of short spans supported on arches, piers, or columns

Illustration of viaduct

Illustration of viaduct

Examples of viaduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The city said there are no changes to the viaduct, just a re-ramp into downtown. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The route is made up of more than 100 bridges and viaducts and almost as many tunnels. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 At the time of the hit-and-run, the purple-haired teenager was walking home from the bus stop in an area of the viaduct with no sidewalk. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 Some of the viaduct’s drainage infrastructure is failed or failing, leading to the flooding problems, according to Burman. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for viaduct

Word History

Etymology

Latin via way, road + English aqueduct

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viaduct was in 1816

Browse Nearby Words

via dolorosa
viaduct
Viagra
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Viaduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viaduct. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

viaduct

noun
via·​duct ˈvī-ə-ˌdəkt How to pronounce viaduct (audio)
: a bridge for carrying a road or railroad over something (as a gorge or a highway)

More from Merriam-Webster on viaduct

Nglish: Translation of viaduct for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about viaduct

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