traffic island

American  

noun

1. a raised or marked-off area between lanes of a roadway, used by pedestrians to get out of the flow of traffic, as a place for traffic signals, for separating lanes, etc.

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traffic island British  

noun

1. a raised area in the middle of a road, designed as a guide for traffic and to provide a stopping place for pedestrians

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Etymology

Origin of traffic island

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

"Loads congregate at night on the traffic island of the bypass."

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

With the old stadium headed for demolition, it was placed on a grassy traffic island at the foot of a Manhattan exit ramp — a lonely greeter, to a mostly empty island.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

As we neared the end of the tour, we stopped through Verdi Square, the irregularly shaped traffic island named for the Italian opera composer.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2023

A passenger drop-off point on the eastern side features a traffic island full of Seussian tree aloes surrounded by an arrangement of charcoal-colored slate that resembles the scales of a Mesozoic beast.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2022

One man sat on a traffic island in the middle of the road holding a sign saying in Dutch “This is a dead end road,” while others parked a truck blocking the road.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2021