traffic

1 of 3

noun (1)

traf·​fic ˈtra-fik 

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 ideas …

—F. L. Allen

6

: a concentration of participants or players and especially defensive players

force difficult shots in traffic

7

archaic : wares, goods

see also:

the traffic will bear

traffic

2 of 3

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

: trade, barter

trafficker noun

trafficker

3 of 3

noun (2)

traf·​fick·​er

ˈtrafikə(r), 

-fēk-

plural -s

: one that traffics:

a

: negotiator, schemer

whole clan of … spies and traffickers

—R. L. Stevenson

b

: merchant, dealer

groups of traffickers who … made a market of their wares

—Gilbert Parker

a trafficker in ideas

—Ellery Sedgwick

Synonyms of traffic

Noun (1)

• commerce
• marketplace
• trade

Verb

• trade
• deal

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 (1)

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

And lunar traffic is poised to increase greatly in the coming years, as both the United States and China aim to build bases near the moon's south pole. — Leonard David, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The driver, Bruce Rodriguez, was unable to stop because of traffic and the position of the bus along South Centinela Avenue in Mar Vista at the time, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. — Breaking News, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Verb

In the 1990s, Nigerian rings often trafficked drugs from Southeast Asia to Chicago via couriers, according to the Justice Department. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Two other women at the home, who were from China and Romania, denied being trafficked. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1537, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing traffic

• air traffic control
• air traffic controller
• foot traffic
• pedestrian/foot traffic
• the traffic will bear
• traffic circle
• traffic cone
• traffic cop
• traffic court
• traffic engineering
• traffic hazard
• traffic island
• traffic jam
• traffic light
• traffic signal
• traffic stop
• traffic-stopper
• traffic ticket
• traffic warden

Rhymes for traffic

• graphic
• angiographic
• choreographic
• chromatographic
• iconographic
• ideographic
• idiographic
• metallographic
• oceanographic
• physiographic
• polarographic
• radiographic

Kids Definition

traffic

1 of 2 noun

traf·​fic ˈtraf-ik 

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