traffic

American  

[traf-ik] / ˈtræf ɪk /

noun

1. the movement of vehicles, ships, persons, etc., in an area, along a street, through an air lane, over a water route, etc..

   the heavy traffic on Main Street.

2. the vehicles, persons, etc., moving in an area, along a street, etc.

3. the transportation of goods for the purpose of trade, by sea, land, or air.

   ships of traffic.

4. trade; buying and selling; commercial dealings.

5. trade between different countries or places; commerce.

6. the business done by a railroad or other carrier in the transportation of freight or passengers.

7. the aggregate of freight, passengers, telephone or telegraph messages, etc., handled, especially in a given period.

8. communication, dealings, or contact between persons or groups.

   traffic between the Democrats and the Republicans.

9. mutual exchange or communication.

   traffic in ideas.

10. trade in some specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature.

    the vast traffic in narcotics.

11. illegal commercial trade in human beings for the purpose of exploiting them.

    the traffic in young children.

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verb (used without object)

trafficked, trafficking

1. to carry on traffic, trade, or commercial dealings.

2. to trade or deal in a specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature (usually followed byin ).

   to traffic in opium.

verb (used with object)

trafficked, trafficking

1. (of vehicles or persons) to move over or through (a place).

   It's a heavily trafficked bridge.

2. to trade or deal in (a commodity or service).

   to traffic guns.

3. to trade in (human beings) for the purpose of exploitation.

   He was convicted for trafficking illegal immigrants.

traffic British  

/ ˈtræfɪk /

noun

1. 1. the vehicles coming and going in a street, town, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      traffic lights

2. the movement of vehicles, people, etc, in a particular place or for a particular purpose

   sea traffic

3. 1. the business of commercial transportation by land, sea, or air

   2. the freight, passengers, etc, transported

4. (usually foll by with) dealings or business

   have no traffic with that man

5. trade, esp of an illicit or improper kind

   drug traffic

6. the aggregate volume of messages transmitted through a communications system in a given period

7. the number of customers patronizing a commercial establishment in a given time period

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verb

1. (often foll by in) to carry on trade or business, esp of an illicit kind

2. (usually foll by with) to have dealings

Related Words

See trade.

Other Word Forms

• intertraffic noun
• trafficker noun
• trafficless adjective
• untrafficked adjective

Etymology

Origin of traffic

First recorded in 1495–1505; earlier traffyk, from Middle French trafique (noun), trafiquer; (verb) from Italian traffico (noun), trafficare (verb), of disputed origin

Explanation

If you drive during rush hour, you're likely to hit some heavy traffic, and if you get stuck in a big traffic jam, you'll definitely be late. It's not just cars that create traffic — a large number of anything trying to occupy the same space adds up to traffic. Internet providers may see a lot of traffic when there's big news and everyone is trying to sign on to find out what happened. Pedestrians also create traffic, like those walking past your new burrito palace and pet costume shop. While your business may be perfectly respectable, you would want to watch out for people who traffic stolen goods and illegal drugs. In that sense, traffic acts as a verb indicating you're trading something, often illegally.

Example Sentences

On Friday, a senior Iranian official claimed the key Strait of Hormuz was open to oil-tanker traffic again.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Although the temporary peace is fragile and there is still minimal oil traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, traders have taken negotiations as a signal it’s safe to pile into equities.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

He eventually encountered a white Cadillac slowly attempting to merge into a single lane of traffic.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

If he does win, he might be willing to cause traffic chaos on the motorway, while it would mean he surpasses Ronnie O'Sullivan as the oldest ever world champion.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

People walk right across the middle of Fifth Avenue in traffic, and the cars honk and the people shout and the rain slurs up all the noise.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Related Words

• freight
• gridlock
• influx
• movement
• service
• shipment
• transit
• transport
• transportation
• travel