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

That triggered a new mandatory evacuation order for an area from Sunset Boulevard to Encino Reservoir, and from the 405 Freeway west to Mandeville Canyon, with sections of the thoroughfare remaining closed to ward off excess traffic in the West Los Angeles area. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2025

The once-leafy thoroughfares known as the Alphabet Streets now look like a nuclear bomb detonated at the Chase bank in the nearby shopping village. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025

One week following a deadly terror attack on New Orleans' iconic Bourbon Street, fourteen crosses neatly line the entrance to the thoroughfare famous across the globe as a symbol of a good time. —Kati Weis, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025

The heavily trafficked thoroughfare did not have vehicle security barriers, known as bollards, at the time of the attack. —Daniella Silva, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025

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