thoroughfare

noun

thor·​ough·​fare ˈthər-ə-ˌfer 

ˈthə-rə-

1

: a way or place for passage: such as

a

: a street open at both ends

b

: a main road

2

a

: passage, transit

b

: the conditions necessary for passing through

Synonyms

• arterial
• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• road
• roadway
• route
• row
• street
• thruway
• trace
• turnpike
• way

Examples of thoroughfare in a Sentence

one of the city's main thoroughfares

Recent Examples on the Web

The iconic, story-high Julius fountain in the main thoroughfare is drained, with no sign of construction. —Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024

The hotel is a few short, walkable blocks from Avenida Paulista, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, bustling with pedestrians, a botanical garden, and many shops and restaurants. —Dalya Benor, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2024

Cameras, speed limit adjustments and other changes are planned for Belair Road after a series of pedestrian deaths last month on the Northeast Baltimore thoroughfare. —Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 16 Dec. 2024

Either way, tens of thousands of vehicles are now double- and triple-parked on the many of the city’s thoroughfares. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

thoroughfare

noun

thor·​ough·​fare ˈthər-ə-ˌfa(ə)r 

ˈthə-rə-,

-ˌfe(ə)r

1

: a street or road open at both ends

2

: a main road