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 of crossroad

• intersection
• corner
• junction

Examples of crossroad in a Sentence

Traffic was stopped at the crossroad.

We turned onto a crossroad.

Recent Examples on the Web

Based on Kate Myers’ bestselling book Excavation, Dig is centered on four women — one of them played by Poehler — working at an archeological dig in Greece who are at wildly different crossroads in their lives. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025

After years of pitching ideas and shepherding projects through the labyrinth of development, Evans reached a crossroads. —Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Dec. 2025

For now, Japan stands at a crossroads. —Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025

Sami Zayn’s current run in WWE appears to be at a crossroads. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 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