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

As armored tanks drove down the main thoroughfare, scared and teary-eyed residents acknowledged being at a total loss. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025

Another ordinance gives squirrels the right of way on all public streets, sidewalks and thoroughfares in Olney, and implements a $750 fine for harassing one. —Michelle Mastro, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025

In a phone interview with the Star-Telegram, Williams cited his work to promote neighborhood commercial development and improve safety on major thoroughfares like Risinger Road and McCart Avenue as some of his proudest accomplishments. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025

Large sections of Interstate 10 — the Gulf Coast’s major thoroughfare — in Texas and Louisiana are closed Tuesday as snow and some icy mix make travel difficult to impossible. —Karina Tsui, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thoroughfare

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

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