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

In January of 2024, at a crossroads of an already long and accomplished professional baseball career, Chris Sale was willing to try something — anything — new. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Still, Malone has jumped right in, even signing a player — former South Dakota center Cameron Fens, who is part of an eligibility suit filed in Tennessee — caught squarely in the crossroads of that uncertainty. — Brendan Marks, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Located at the junction of three continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa—the region has historically been a crossroads for conquerors, peoples, trade, and ideas. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

The province likely acted as a crossroads connecting north and south Asia. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 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