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 of thoroughfare

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

Examples of thoroughfare in a Sentence

one of the city's main thoroughfares

Recent Examples on the Web

What to do nearby Archway is set on Frankford Avenue, a main thoroughfare that cuts through Fishtown, a thriving neighborhood situated northeast of Center City along the Delaware River. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

The resulting long lineups snake out from working gas stations into the main thoroughfares of Moscow and other Russian cities. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026

Rancho Cordova was awarded more than $3 million in grants from a local agency for two road improvement projects on major city thoroughfares. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The crash occurred along the Hawan Kibo-Jos route, a major thoroughfare connecting Plateau to Abuja, the capital. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

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