What is the full meaning of alley?
Emma Martin
Published Feb 17, 2026
What is the full meaning of alley?
Alley. An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in the older parts of towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, walk, or avenue (French allée) in a park or garden.
What is an example of an alley?
A narrow street or passageway between or behind city buildings. The definition of alley is a small street in a town or city that runs between blocks, and allows rear access to the buildings. An example of an alley is the small road in the back of a house where neighborhood kids gather to play.
What is alleyway in American English?
alleyway in American English 1. an alley or lane. 2. a narrow passageway. Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC.
What is an alley used for?
An alley is a narrow lane for pedestrians or service that runs between or behind buildings. Alleys used to be planned into cities for trash access, deliveries, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services, fire engines, and for parking.
Are alleyways public property?
The public right of way is any public thoroughfare such as a street, road or alley. It usually includes the median, utility poles, sidewalks and the area immediately adjacent to the street. The right of way is public property.
Why do old neighborhoods have alleys?
In the 19th century, American cities used alleys to hide the more utilitarian, less attractive functions of urban life including service and servant access, barns for horses and carriages, and even small shops and areas for children to play.
Is there a difference between alley and alleyway?
As nouns the difference between alleyway and alley is that alleyway is a narrow street formed by the proximity of adjacent buildings while alley is a narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings or alley can be a glass marble or taw.
Why do old cities have alleys?
The primary role of alleys has traditionally been to hide the more unsightly functions of our communities; the garages, garbage cans, transformers, electric meters, and telephone equipment. In older cities, alleys are being rediscovered as people places.
Who owns the alleyway between houses?
There are usually only two kinds of people and organisations who can own an alleyway: either your local authority or one (or more) of the people who live in your street. These are known as footpaths, and the public has a right of way to use them. The Highways Authority is responsible for keeping them clean and usable.
Who owns an alley?
Streets and alleys are publicly owned rights-of-way and, as such, must be accessible to all members of the public street or alley in order to restrict access to residents. Cities are permitted to abandon (vacate) a street or alley if the property in question is unnecessary for present or future right-of-way purposes.
What is the difference between Ally and alley?
“Alley” is a noun meaning a narrow passageway. “Ally” is a verb or noun meaning to connect by some relationship usually showing helpfulness or kinship. Example: The United States is a close ally of England.
Why are there alleys behind houses?
How do you spell Alley?
The Correct spelling is: alley. Common misspellings of the word alley are: alley in french. alley in spanish. alley in german. alley in italian.
What is legal definition of Alley?
The definition of alley is a small street in a town or city that runs between blocks, and allows rear access to the buildings. An example of an alley is the small road in the back of a house where neighborhood kids gather to play.
What is an example of a sentence of Alley?
Sentence Examples Alley has consistently broken opposition opening partnerships with his aggressive and accurate spells of fast bowling. Be sure to bookmark this page and return in about 10 days to read about one of the other Tin Pan Alley publishers.
What is a synonym for alley?
Synonyms for Alley: n. • backyard, back, arcade, close, blind alley, cloister, campus. • bowl, bleachers, baseline, Astroturf, clay, crease, court. •aisle (noun) way. •alley (noun) back street, alleyway, bowling alley, skittle alley.