A boulevard is a wide, important street in a city, often lined with trees and designed to be attractive as well as functional. The word comes from French, where it originally meant a wide road built on top of old city walls.

When city planners design boulevards, they typically make them broader than ordinary streets, sometimes with multiple lanes of traffic, planted medians down the middle, and rows of trees creating shade for pedestrians. Famous boulevards like the Champs-Élysées in Paris or Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles become landmarks themselves, places people visit just to walk along and experience.

What makes a boulevard different from a regular street? Size matters, but so does intention. Boulevards are meant to be grand thoroughfares that help define a city's character. They often connect important parts of a city or serve as main routes through downtown areas. Some boulevards have broad sidewalks perfect for strolling, outdoor cafes, and shops. Others prioritize moving large numbers of cars efficiently while still maintaining an elegant appearance.

The term has become so associated with major urban streets that many cities name their important roads “boulevard” even when they don't fit the traditional definition. If you see “Blvd.” as an abbreviation in an address, you'll know it stands for boulevard.