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

• 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

Now on the brink of adulthood, Belly finds herself at a crossroads and must decide which brother has her heart. —Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025

Joe Raedle | Getty Images Farley said during an event in Louisville on Monday that the announcement comes as the automotive industry is at a crossroads because of new technology and competition. —Ali McCadden,sara Salinas, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025

As tennis enters a new era, with the US Open as its annual exclamation point, the sport stands at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

Both are at a crossroads, striving to preserve their roots. —Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 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