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

• arterial
• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• road
• roadway
• route
• row
• street
• thruway
• trace
• turnpike
• way

Examples of thoroughfare in a Sentence

one of the city's main thoroughfares

Recent Examples on the Web

The Butterfly Farm, located on the island’s main thoroughfare, J. Irausquin Boulevard, in Orangestad, is home to hundreds of butterflies originally from South America, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Australia, China, Africa and Malaysia. —Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Set right on the thoroughfare that runs through its famed namesake area, you are surrounded by a wealth of shops, restaurants, and historical sites. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025

Not just a pass-through Danny Herron remembers a time before 71 Highway, when Prospect was the main thoroughfare from downtown Kansas City to southern suburbs. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2025

Fort Lauderdale turf war over tiny piece of land heading to court Park or thoroughfare? —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 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