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human trafficking

American  

noun

  1. the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation.


Etymology

Origin of human trafficking

First recorded in 1985–90


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The police will now try to establish whether the people arrested include victims of human trafficking.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

They are united by their faith and shared ministry, the Ohio Sisters Justice Network, whose banner described the network’s use of “gospel justice” to protect democracy, end human trafficking and support immigrants.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promptly blamed the migrant rush on human trafficking gangs.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

She said her mind leapt to human trafficking, a popular topic in the Facebook groups where she chatted with other surrogates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

But her fight against child marriage and her advocacy to end human trafficking are changing the world.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

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