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

The architecture of Pride Cleaners stands in stark contrast to Chatham’s bungalows and courtyard apartments and the classical revival ornamentation of 79th Street’s commercial thoroughfare. —Elizabeth Blasius, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

The triptych is along the wall in a main thoroughfare of the museum facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that form part of the building’s bridge over Wilshire Boulevard. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026

The major east-west thoroughfare represents four of the top five items on the city’s wish list for the upcoming fiscal year, according to a draft project ranking considered by the council earlier this month. —Mark Dee march 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

The thoroughfare, staff wrote, is very dangerous. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 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