traffic

1 of 2

noun

traf·​fic ˈtra-fik How to pronounce traffic (audio)
often attributive
1
a(1)
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
(2)
: congestion of vehicles
stuck in traffic
(3)
: the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route
b
: the information or signals transmitted over a communications system : messages
2
: the volume of customers visiting a business establishment
restaurant traffic
3
a
: the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system
b
: the business of transporting passengers or freight
4
a
: import and export trade
b
: the business of bartering or buying and selling
c
: illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
the drug traffic
5
a
: communication or dealings especially between individuals or groups
b
: exchange
a lively traffic in ideasF. L. Allen
6
: a concentration of participants or players and especially defensive players
force difficult shots in traffic
7
archaic : wares, goods

traffic

2 of 2

verb

trafficked; trafficking

intransitive verb

1
: to carry on traffic
2
: to concentrate one's effort or interest
broadly : engage, deal
a writer who often traffics in hyperbole

transitive verb

1
a
: to travel over
heavily trafficked highways
b
: to visit as a customer
a highly trafficked bookstore
2
trafficker noun
Phrases
the traffic will bear
: existing conditions will allow or permit
charge what the traffic will bear
Choose the Right Synonym for traffic

business, commerce, trade, industry, traffic mean activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities.

business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Examples of traffic in a Sentence

Noun Let's leave early to avoid rush hour traffic. Traffic is backed up to the bridge. Barge traffic was halted because of flooding. Airlines saw a decrease in passenger traffic this year. Verb arrested him for trafficking in drugs
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The existing Blue Line plan already maintains at least two lanes of general purpose traffic in each direction along 70% of the route, according to the map. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 In recent weeks, Russian tech companies and online activists have also reported new government efforts to identify patterns of internet traffic that come from virtual private networks, or VPNs, a software designed to get around blocks. Aaron Krolik, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Pedestrian traffic will be restricted on both directions while repairs are underway. The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 Harden then lost control of his Equinox and the car traveled to the left across all lanes of traffic. The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024 Two-wheeled traffic in Guangzhou in general seemed to present a challenge for the system. Mark Andrews, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 Passenger train traffic has been suspended at the Mariposa Point slide since Jan. 24. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 In traffic cam footage released by BNO News of the incident, the jet is seen crashing to the side of the busy interstate highway, narrowly missing driving cars, before bursting into flames on grassy terrain behind a nearby Costco. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 More recently, Swift urged her fans to register to vote in September, breaking traffic records on the Vote.org site. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
Jacinto was quick to correct the narrative, telling CNN Sunday that she was trafficked from 2004 to 2008 in Mexico. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 Living in the shadows There are few ways out for trafficking victims like Chae-ran. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, kids are still being trafficked — on streets, in cheap hotels, on the internet, in our own neighborhoods. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Poisonous narcotics trafficked across the border have affected close to half of the population. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 2 Mar. 2024 Alcott has been charged with two counts of selling a hallucinogen, trafficking LSD, possessing a hallucinogen with distribution intent, possessing drug paraphernalia and two counts of using a two-way communication device to commit a felony. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2024 Grant’s lawsuit also alleges that McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside the company, including John Laurinaitus, who worked in the company’s talent relations department and is also named as a defendant in the suit. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024 The bill would deploy new technology at the border; end catch and release; strengthen current law to protect unaccompanied children from trafficking; hire thousands of additional CBP agents; and more. Mike Garcia, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024 In a third case, the Times reported, a source told U.S. agents that trafficking groups had videos of the president’s sons receiving drug money. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'traffic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters

First Known Use

Noun

1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1537, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of traffic was in 1511

Dictionary Entries Near traffic

Cite this Entry

“Traffic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

traffic

1 of 2 noun
traf·​fic ˈtraf-ik How to pronounce traffic (audio)
1
: the business of buying and selling : commerce
2
: communication or dealings between persons or groups
had no traffic with the enemy
3
a
: the movement (as of pedestrians or vehicles) through an area or along a route
heavy traffic in the kitchen before dinner
rush-hour traffic
b
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
c
: a crowded mass of vehicles
stuck in traffic
4
a
: the passengers or goods carried by train, boat, or airplane
b
: the business of carrying passengers or goods

traffic

2 of 2 verb
trafficked; trafficking
: to carry on traffic : trade, deal
trafficker noun

Legal Definition

traffic

1 of 2 noun
traf·​fic
often attributive
1
a
: import and export trade
b
: the business of bartering or buying and selling
c
: illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
the drug traffic
2
a
: the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route
b
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
c
: the information or signals transmitted over a communications system
3
a
: the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system
b
: the business of transporting passengers or freight

traffic

2 of 2 verb
trafficked; trafficking

intransitive verb

: to carry on traffic

transitive verb

1
: to travel over
2
: to engage in the trading or bartering of
trafficker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on traffic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!