traffic sign

American  

[traf-ik sahyn] / ˈtræf ɪk ˌsaɪn /

noun

traffic signs plural

1. a road sign, especially one carrying information intended to ensure the safe and smooth movement of vehicles, such as speed limits, parking and lane restrictions, the presence of crosswalks, etc..

   The website explains traffic signs and rules, such as the rules for right of way.

   Bike lanes are clearly indicated by street markings and blue traffic signs.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• traffic signs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of traffic sign

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

traffic sign

On another hung a fake traffic sign for drone operators reading: “Don’t Outsource Your Authority/Maintain human control and judgment.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Some streets were blocked by traffic sign poles and large metal sheets, in an apparent effort by protesters to protect themselves from gunfire.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026

Many truckers quit the industry after the introduction of enhanced English proficiency tests, where highway inspectors check for language proficiency and highway traffic sign competency.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 25, 2025

When you read — a book, a traffic sign, a billboard, this article — how much do you really notice the letters?

From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2024

We had just stopped at a traffic sign, and the usual crowd was beginning to collect.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey