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

Beatty found herself at a crossroads, wondering what to do next. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2025

Two years after inheriting a World Series championship roster, Brown is the face and voice of a franchise at a crossroads, a precarious position for someone whose entire career evolved outside of the spotlight. —Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

Protesters Rally Against Trump’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ To Education Department By Nicholas Creel Assistant Professor of Business Law, Georgia College and State University Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member opinion 3 Higher education in America stands now at a crossroads. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025

Crypto, a roughly 15-year-old industry that’s largely operated on the fringes of finance, is at a crossroads. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crossroad

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• decode

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