- present participle of traffic.
trafficking
Americannoun
-
the practice of dealing or trading in a commodity or service, often an illegal one.
drug trafficking.
Etymology
Origin of trafficking
First recorded in 1530–40; traffic ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
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.
Several African nationals remained in custody, even though initial findings suggested they may have been victims of human trafficking, officials said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
As one of the oldest US federal judges, questions had been raised about whether he was the right justice to preside over what could be a prolonged trial for Maduro on drug trafficking charges.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Homeland Security Investigations agents typically focused on transnational criminal investigations such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Another weak idea is easing pressure on the global “shadow fleet” trafficking in sanctioned products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
In light of new evidence, Matthias Benedik Helvar is granted full and immediate pardon for all charges of slave trafficking.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
