autobahn

Noun

autobahn (plural autobahns or autobahnen)

1. The high-speed intercity highways of Germany and Austria.
   • On a recent afternoon a work crew and crane were affixing the tall lettering to the side of the team’s new stadium, just off the autobahn in Sinsheim, a few miles from Hoffenheim.2009 January 22, Nicholas Kulish, “Soccer Titan Raises Profile of Tiny Village”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022
   • Confusion reigned on German autobahns and highways at the start of one of the busiest holiday breaks of the year on Thursday after Google Maps wrongly indicated that vast swathes of them were closed.2025 May 30, Kate Connolly, “Chaos on German autobahns as Google Maps wrongly says they are closed”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 26 Aug 2025
2. (broadly) Any wide, high-speed road.
   • These ant autobahns function much the same as human highways to speed transport of goods and to reduce bumps and potholes in the path.2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 112