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

Turned to music, his body emerges from the ditch and now the dust is beautiful, a labyrinth of intersecting crossroads. —Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026

This crossroads of the world is set to become a crossroads for design-conscious travelers, too. —Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026

The intersection of Waukegan and Westleigh Roads in Lake Forest is set for a major overhaul later this year as the city seeks to improve traffic flow and safety at the busy crossroads. —Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Here’s a closer look at Greenland’s position at a crossroads for nuclear defense. —John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 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