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

TxDOT is planning to widen busy thoroughfare from Bill Cook Road west of Justin to FM 1830 near Lantana. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026

Connecting Highway 401 in Ontario with Interstate 75 in Michigan, the six-lane thoroughfare is expected to reduce congestion at surrounding border crossings while facilitating a freer flow of goods between the countries. —Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 9 June 2026

The two major thoroughfares will have one lane closed in each direction until cleanup is complete, which will last through summer, Pestrella said. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 9 June 2026

Traffic typically backs up on Harbor Drive and other main downtown thoroughfares on nights when concerts at The Shell and Padres games take place concurrently. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 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