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

For hard evidence of this, go to up-and-coming Micklegate Street, a cobbled thoroughfare lined with intimate eateries like cottagecore coffeehouse Partisan, tapas spot Sotano, and contemporary British bistros Skosh and The Rattle Owl. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

The councilmember acknowledged the overhaul of Hopkins Street was a monumental decision, one that would reshape transportation on one of the major thoroughfares connecting East and West Berkeley. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

The organization recently put out new renderings of a state-of-the-art stadium that would be built on land near SeaWorld just off of I-4, the main thoroughfare through the Orlando area. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

On Laurel Street, a short residential thoroughfare, speeds fell from between 25 to 30 mph to less than 20 mph after speed humps were added. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 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