crossroad

noun

cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd 

 also  -ˈrōd

1

: a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads

2

usually crossroads ˈkrȯs-ˌrōdz 

 also  -ˈrōdz

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

a

: the place of intersection of two or more roads

b(1)

: a small community located at such a crossroads

(2)

: a central meeting place

c

: a crucial point especially where a decision must be made

Synonyms

• carrefour
• corner
• crossing
• crossway(s)
• intersection
• junction

Examples of crossroad in a Sentence

Traffic was stopped at the crossroad.

We turned onto a crossroad.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jay Weaver Miami Herald 305-376-3446 Jay Weaver writes about federal crime at the crossroads of South Florida and Latin America. —Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025

With each franchise at a crossroads, the Cubs and Astros have already matched up for a blockbuster trade this offseason. —Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

As awards season continued its march, the former Baywatch actress, 57, kept racking up honors for her turn as Shelly, a Las Vegas dancer who finds herself at a crossroads when her live show is canceled. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025

The healthcare software industry is at the crossroads of innovation and necessity. —Paul Kovalenko, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

crossroad

noun

cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd 

-ˈrōd

1

: a road that crosses a main road or runs across country between main roads

2

a

: a place where roads cross

—usually used in plural

b

: a small community at a crossroads

3

: a place or time at which a decision must be made