This might be the way to be both rigorous and fair, it's said (12)
I believe the answer is:
thoroughfare
'this might be the way to be both' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'rigorous and fair it's said' is the wordplay.
'rigorous' becomes 'thorough' (I've seen this before).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'it's said' shows a homophone (sound like).
'fair' sounds like 'fare'.
'thorough'+'fare'='THOROUGHFARE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thoroughfare that I've seen before include "Road or path" , "Public way or street" , "Access - road" , "highway" , "Main road" .)