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

One of Miami’s most maddening crossroads has become easier to navigate. —Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026

Walnut Creek’s future as a commercial, dining and nightlife destination began near those crossroads with the opening of a hotel, store and saloon in the 1850s. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

Below, senior features editor Rebecca Misner, global digital director Arati Menon, destinations senior editor Shannon McMahon, and senior visuals editor Pallavi Mohan Kumar weigh in on all that could go down at the security crossroads. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The region has quietly become one of the most strategically competitive crossroads in Eurasia. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

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