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

Rapid development is driving changes to a popular north-south thoroughfare in the Treasure Valley. —Idaho Statesman, 14 Nov. 2025

Folsom and Watt are both wide thoroughfares where drivers are legally permitted to travel at lethal speeds. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Last year, the thoroughfare celebrated its bicentennial. —David Moin, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025

It is situated at the intersection of two long thoroughfares — one that runs north to south and a second that runs east to west — which might have been used as processional routes. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

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