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

Off the main thoroughfare of 5th Avenue and steps from the perfect photo venue at the historic Naples Pier, the restaurant is the perfect place to get your fresh seafood fix with a Mediterranean flair. —Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025

They were likely made over a relatively short time span, indicating that this area was a popular thoroughfare for theropods and could have been part of a larger dinosaur freeway that spans Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

The property is in an unincorporated pocket of north Stockton near Thornton Road, a major thoroughfare north of Hammer Lane, between Wagner Heights Road and Waudman Avenue. —Kathleen Quinn, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025

Chicago's overnight winter parking ban goes into effect on several major city thoroughfares early Monday morning. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 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