traffic

[traf-ik]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic¹

C16: from Old French trafique , from Old Italian traffico , from trafficare to engage in trade

Synonym Study

See trade.

Example Sentences

Venezuela is dominated by a patchwork of guerrilla and paramilitary groups that have enriched themselves with gold smuggling, drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The company doesn’t see its open bathrooms as a source of significant revenue from related store traffic or as a particular drain on profits, he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So far, the U.S. has carried out at least five strikes on alleged drug boats, killing 27 in an unusual display of American force against narcotics trafficking.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The trade group’s measures of current sales and traffic increased but remained at relatively low levels.

Read more on Barron's

The industry is leaning into promotions and menu innovation—including an expansion into the beverage business —to drive more traffic in stores.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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