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

Many District 8 commercial thoroughfares, for example, are ghost towns and need significant economic development. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

The hotel is a few minutes on foot from the port on Shiomachi Shotengai, which was once a major shipping thoroughfare, with 10,000 people passing through daily in its centuries-old heyday. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026

In 2025, the Laguna Beach City Council decided to make the thoroughfare a permanent pedestrian plaza. —Jeff Gritchen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026

Some of these thoroughfares are decidedly more visit-worthy than others, and USA Today recently deemed one main street the best in the county. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 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