- 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.
The police will now try to establish whether the people arrested include victims of human trafficking.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Indyke and Kahn have denied knowing Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking or knowingly facilitating any crimes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
However, officials have not offered definitive evidence that the vessels targeted are involved in trafficking.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
The crime of human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations, involves the illegal recruitment, transportation or harbouring of people through fraud, deception or abuse of power.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
