A means of escape.
"The thief used his motorcycle as a quick getaway when he realized the police were closing in."
Pertaining to an escape, as in a vehicle or plans.
"The police were trying to catch them before they could reach their getaway car."
In plain English: A getaway describes something that is designed to help someone escape quickly and easily from a dangerous situation.
"They planned their quick getaway flight to avoid being caught in traffic."
Usage: Use this adjective only when describing vehicles designed specifically for fleeing after a crime, such as getaway cars. Do not use it casually to refer to any vacation spot or leisure trip.
This word is a straightforward combination of the verbs get and away, formed to describe the act of escaping or fleeing a place. It entered English as a single noun phrase that has since become a standard term for an escape route or a short vacation trip.