thoroughfare

[ thur-oh-fair, -uh-fair, thuhr- ]

noun

1. a road, street, or the like, that leads at each end into another street.
2. a major road or highway.
3. a passage or way through:

   no thoroughfare.

4. a strait, river, or the like, affording passage.

thoroughfare

/ ˈθʌrəˌfɛə /

noun

1. a road from one place to another, esp a main road
2. way through or access

   no thoroughfare

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoroughfare¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, thoroughfare is from the Middle English word thurghfare. See thorough, fare

Example Sentences

The Park Service also said the Memorial Bridge and parts of major thoroughfares downtown, including Constitution, Pennsylvania and Independence avenues, would be blocked.

From Washington Post

Its main thoroughfare, 3rd Street, cuts through both the business and entertainment districts in town.

From No Straight News

We ducked into the woods behind our house in Vermont, crossed the neighbor’s field, and emerged onto a quiet gravel track that was once a thoroughfare to a copper mine.

From Outside Online

In New York City, the Metro Transit Authority trialed a system on major thoroughfares with a reported rate of 0% accuracy.

From MIT Technology Review

Unlike many clubs, the Stonewall Inn, which opened in March 1967, was on a main thoroughfare instead of a side street.

From No Straight News

Davis was one of the last ones out and hurried to follow the other hostages, who were being marched down the thoroughfare.

From The Daily Beast

On a busy Manhattan thoroughfare, the artist Andy Golub painted the bodies of nude models.

From The Daily Beast

“Libya in general is a major thoroughfare, the I-95 for foreign fighters into Syria from Africa,” the U.S. defense official said.

From The Daily Beast

The Border Patrol's Tucson sector, long a major thoroughfare for illegal immigration, stands out as an outlier.

From The Daily Beast

In Hebron, Israeli settlers occupy the main thoroughfare and commonly attack Palestinians.

From The Daily Beast

Newhall Street, and a new thoroughfare made in continuation of Bread Street.

From Project Gutenberg

A cross-road from the Black Caon road would place them in the thoroughfare that ran past the house.

From Project Gutenberg

Matt took the cross-road on two wheels, and, half a minute later, lurched into the main thoroughfare in the same way.

From Project Gutenberg

But in the great thoroughfare the tide of vehicles and foot passengers was perceptibly thinning.

From Project Gutenberg

"It is a crowded thoroughfare," the man remarked nervously, looking up and down Shaftesbury Avenue.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• causeway
• expressway
• freeway
• highway
• lane
• street
• waterway