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

• highway
• road
• street
• freeway
• route
• boulevard
• expressway
• roadway
• carriageway [British]
• artery
• arterial
• turnpike

Examples of thoroughfare in a Sentence

one of the city's main thoroughfares

Recent Examples on the Web

The proposal would not only include metered parking along Bardstown and Baxter, but also several side streets off the thoroughfare. —Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Aug. 2025

In New York City, heavy rains halted traffic along a major east-west thoroughfare in Queens, east of Manhattan. —Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 31 July 2025

The lounge is located on Leeward Highway, the main thoroughfare. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025

In 2014, the land beneath 100 West 57th sold to owners who seemed keen to take advantage of the block’s transformation from a somewhat undistinguished Midtown thoroughfare of souvenir shops and mid-tier buildings to Billionaire’s Row. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 23 July 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