# thoroughfare

/ˈθɝoʊˌfɛɹ/ (US) · /θˈʌɹəfˌeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thoroughfare
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a main road

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a main road or street that connects two places and is open for everyone to use.

For teachers: a public road or highway that is open at both ends, typically serving as a primary artery for transit between locations.

- The city's main thoroughfare was crowded with shoppers and cars all afternoon.
- The urban planners decided to pedestrianize the historic thoroughfare, redirecting heavy commercial traffic to the newly constructed ring road.

Usage: Often used in urban planning or formal descriptions of city geography.

### 2. a way through

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a path or passage that lets you go through an area rather than stopping there.

For teachers: a passage or way through from one place to another; the right or ability to pass through a space.

- This narrow alley is the only thoroughfare between the two busy squares.
- The property owner argued that the path had never been a public thoroughfare, despite decades of local residents using it as a shortcut.

Usage: Can be used both for physical paths and the legal right of passage.

### 3. waterway

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a wide channel of water that ships use to travel through.

For teachers: an unobstructed waterway, such as a channel or strait, that allows for the passage of maritime vessels.

- The strait serves as a vital thoroughfare for international shipping containers.
- Environmental regulations were tightened to protect the marine life inhabiting the busy thoroughfare leading into the industrial port.

Usage: Primarily used in maritime or geographical contexts.

## Examples

- The main thoroughfare is very busy during the morning rush hour.
- The city plans to widen the main thoroughfare to accommodate the increasing number of cyclists and public transport.
- Historically, the narrow thoroughfare served as the primary artery for trade, connecting the port to the inland markets before the modern highway system was established.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.