traffic circle

American  

noun

1. a circular arrangement constructed at the intersection of two or more roads in order to facilitate the passage of vehicles from one road to another.

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traffic circle British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): roundabout.  a road junction in which traffic streams circulate around a central island

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Etymology

Origin of traffic circle

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

A classical stadium would echo another new, planned gateway to the city: the monumental Roman-inspired arch the president promises to build in the traffic circle near Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

The plan, featuring small models on a map, shows the arch sitting on a traffic circle near Arlington Cemetery, on the other side of the Potomac River from the white marble Lincoln Memorial.

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

All day and all night, people drive through the traffic circle entrance to campus, beeping their horns - either supporting or in opposition to Kirk.

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2025

The traffic circle where Columbus long lent his presence has now been renamed the Women Who Fight roundabout, a rallying point for Indigenous, feminist and other protesters hoisting handwritten placards.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2025

He came to a large traffic circle where the road going north crossed the Oxford ring road going east and west.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• roundabout