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

The war over which side gets to run the resource-rich nation that sits at the vital crossroads between North Africa, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea has not been happening in a vacuum. —NPR, 27 Oct. 2025

One of our customers, a tour bus operator known for exceptional customer service, faced a similar crossroads – how to grow without sacrificing the personal touch that they were known for. —Dennis Woodside, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025

The rising price tag — $50 million above estimates in each of its first two years — puts the program, known as Healthy School Meals for All, at a crossroads. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025

Ultimately, the Browns are at a crossroads between rebuilding their future around a young QB and patching an immediate offensive problem. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 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