thoroughfare
THUR-oh-fair
/ˈθʌrəfɛər/
A main road in a town or city; a road or path forming a route between two places.
Implies a road that is open at both ends and used for through traffic.
The story behind the word. A combination of 'through' and the Old English 'faru' (a journey/going). It literally means a place where you can 'fare' (go) 'through.'
Word relationships
- artery: Artery emphasizes the road's role in the 'flow' of the city; thoroughfare emphasizes the right of passage.
- cul-de-sac: A cul-de-sac is closed at one end; a thoroughfare is open.
Commonly confused with
- highway: A highway is usually for high-speed travel between cities; a thoroughfare is often within a city.
Collocations
- major thoroughfare
- busy thoroughfare
- public thoroughfare
Example sentences
- "The city council decided to pedestrianize the main thoroughfare to reduce pollution." Urban Planning
- "The sign clearly stated 'No Thoroughfare,' indicating the road was private." Legal
Memory hook
It is a road where you can go 'thoroughly' through to the other side. A road that goes through.
When not to use
Don't use for a cul-de-sac or a dead-end street.
Fun facts
- In old English, 'fare' meant to travel—this is why we pay a bus 'fare' today.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.