noun

Segway

SEG-way

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Segway (noun) means a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle ridden standing up, steered by leaning and by a handlebar column; a trademark. Example: “Tourists wobbled through the old town on Segways.”

noun

A two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle ridden standing up, steered by leaning and by a handlebar column; a trademark.

"Tourists wobbled through the old town on Segways."

"The security guard patrolled the shopping centre on a Segway."

verb

nonstandard A common misspelling of segue, meaning to move smoothly from one topic, scene or piece of music into another.

"He tried to segway into asking for a raise, but everyone had left the meeting."

How to use Segway

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe two-wheeled electric machine you ride standing up; also the wrong spelling of segue.

When to use it

Capitalise Segway when you mean the vehicle. In edited writing, the transition sense should always be spelled segue.

Memory tip

If you can replace it with 'transition', the word you want is segue, not Segway.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

Segue → hoverboard

Common pairings

ride a Segway Segway tour segway into (nonstandard)

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “Segway” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Tourists wobbled through the old town on _____.

Etymology

The trademark was coined as a respelling of segue (from Italian segue, 'it follows'), chosen to suggest a smooth transition. The spelling's resemblance is deliberate, which is why 'segway' is now such a common misspelling of segue in writing.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

self-balancing scooter personal transporter segue

Related words

segue

Rhymes for Segway

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

See all rhymes for Segway →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Segway and segue?

A Segway is the two-wheeled electric vehicle you stand on, and it is a brand name, so it takes a capital S. Segue, pronounced the same way, is the verb and noun for a smooth transition between topics or pieces of music. Writing 'a nice segway into the next point' is a misspelling.

Are Segways still made?

The original two-wheeled self-balancing Segway PT was discontinued in 2020, though the brand lives on and still sells other electric scooters and personal transporters. Plenty of the original machines remain in service on tours and with security patrols.

Why do so many people write segway instead of segue?

Because segue is pronounced SEG-way, which matches the far more familiar brand spelling. The correct spelling comes from Italian and looks nothing like it sounds, so the eye reaches for the vehicle instead.

What is the meaning of Segway?

"Segway" (noun) means a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle ridden standing up, steered by leaning and by a handlebar column; a trademark.

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