thoroughfare

/ˌθʌrəˈfɛər/

Other forms: thoroughfares

A thoroughfare is a public road that can get you from one place to another. When it snows, plows try to remove the snow from the thoroughfares so the school buses can take everyone to school. You’re welcome.

This somewhat old-fashioned word has a very common meaning — a public road that goes from point A to point B. The word is made up of thorough, Old English for basically, “through” and fare for “journey.” (Fare also now means a payment, but not in thoroughfare.) If a road is private, like a driveway, it’s not a thoroughfare. This word often appears in the phrase "no thoroughfare," which means there isn't a public route available.

Definitions of thoroughfare

1. noun

   a public road from one place to another
   types:

   artery

   a major thoroughfare that bears important traffic

   blind alley, cul de sac, dead-end street, impasse

   a street with only one way in or out

   street

   a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

   street

   the part of a thoroughfare between the sidewalks; the part of the thoroughfare on which vehicles travel

   alley, alleyway, back street

   a narrow street with walls on both sides

   avenue, boulevard

   a wide street or thoroughfare

   cross street

   a street intersecting a main street (usually at right angles) and continuing on both sides of it

   local road, local street

   a street that is primarily used to gain access to the property bordering it

   high street, main street

   street that serves as a principal thoroughfare for traffic in a town

   mews

   street lined with buildings that were originally private stables but have been remodeled as dwellings

   one-way street

   a street on which vehicular traffic is allowed to move in only one direction

   rue

   (French) a street or road in France

   side street

   a street intersecting a main street and terminating there

   two-way street

   a street on which vehicular traffic can move in either of two directions

   type of:

   road, route

   an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation