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Autobahn is the German word for a major high-speed road restricted to motor vehicles capable of driving at least 60 km/h (37 mph) and having full control of access, similar to a motorway or freeway in English-speaking countries.

In most countries, it usually refers to the German autobahn specifically. The recommended speed of the German autobahn is 130 km/h (81 mph), but there is no general speed limit. Austrian and Swiss autobahns have general speed limits of 130 km/h (81 mph) and 120 km/h (75 mph), respectively. In German, the word is pronounced as described above, and its plural is Autobahnen; in English, however, the segment "auto" is typically pronounced as in other English words such as "automobile". The official name of the autobahn in Germany is Bundesautobahn (BAB) (Federal Freeway). Autobahns are built and maintained by the federal government (as are the federal highways), thus the name "Federal Freeway". The first were built in the 1920s, and in the 1930s the official name was "Reichsautobahn" (Freeways of the Reich).