Definition
A defined path on an airport surface that connects one part of the airport to another, used by aircraft to move between runways, ramps, hangars, and terminals under their own power. Taxiways are marked with yellow centerlines and edge lines, identified by letters (e.g., Taxiway A, Taxiway B), and may include hold-short markings, signs, and lighting to guide aircraft safely around the movement area.
Plain English
A taxiway is a marked path on the ground that planes use to drive between the runway and the parking area, similar to a road just for aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport diagrams, airport signs and markings, taxi instructions from ground control, and NOTAMs that report taxiway closures or changes.
Derivation
From 'taxi,' which in aviation means to move an aircraft along the ground under its own power. The term came from early aviation slang comparing a plane moving slowly on the ground to a taxicab moving through city streets. A taxiway is therefore the path designed for that movement.
Why Pilots Care
Taxiways must be followed precisely as cleared by ATC. Taking a wrong taxiway, or crossing one without clearance, is a common cause of runway incursions and can lead to violations or collisions.
Intuition Check
Do not read taxiway as any paved space where an aircraft can move. In airport use, a taxiway is a designated route, separate from runways and parking areas.
Example Sentence 1
After landing, the pilot was instructed to exit the runway at the next taxiway and hold short of Taxiway Bravo.
Example Sentence 2
Ground control instructed the aircraft to hold short of TW Bravo before crossing.