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

Last occupied by Brazilian peacekeepers after the 2004 political crisis, the camp has been rebranded as Camp Vertières and sits at the crossroad of at least four armed groups. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026

Trade and cultural exchanges became more fluid, encouraging the emergence of a Mediterranean civilization at the crossroads of West and East. —Roberto Prieto, Variety, 17 June 2026

At the crossroads the right thing can look like the wrong thing and the wrong thing can look like the right thing. —Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

Why mood boosting perfume matters now The trend sits at the crossroads of wellness, neuroscience and beauty. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 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