thoroughfare

noun

thor·​ough·​fare ˈthər-ə-ˌfer 

ˈthə-rə-

1

: a way or place for passage: such as

a

: a street open at both ends

b

: a main road

2

a

: passage, transit

b

: the conditions necessary for passing through

Synonyms of thoroughfare

• highway
• road
• street
• freeway
• route
• boulevard
• expressway
• roadway
• carriageway
• artery
• arterial
• turnpike

Examples of thoroughfare in a Sentence

one of the city's main thoroughfares

Recent Examples on the Web

Chu recommends the side streets near popular thoroughfares for less traffic and therefore more generous candy offerings. — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

In Bordeaux, Rue Sainte-Catherine, the city’s main shopping thoroughfare, was hit by widespread damage. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026

This was a main thoroughfare with hundreds of people, including Orange fans, walking through all of this. — Eric Womack, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

The double-deck Wacker Drive obliterated a tangle of buildings and produce stalls in favor of a broad Beaux Arts thoroughfare by the Chicago River. — Robert Loerzel, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thoroughfare

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

thoroughfare

noun

thor·​ough·​fare ˈthər-ə-ˌfa(ə)r 

ˈthə-rə-, 

-ˌfe(ə)r

1

: a street or road open at both ends

2

: a main road