human trafficking

noun

: organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into sex work or involuntary labor)

Examples of human trafficking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In her 30-year career, Laura has won numerous national awards for coverage of human trafficking, child welfare, crime and government secrecy. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025

Amid the political turmoil, Myanmar has become a cyber scam hotspot, where fraud, cybercrime, human trafficking, money laundering and corruption have flourished, often with the tacit consent of the junta, experts say. —Kocha Olarn, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025

The highly popular fantasy author Neil Gaiman and his estranged wife Amanda Palmer are being sued by their former nanny, Scarlett Pavlovich, for human trafficking. —Andrew Limbong, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025

The Manhattan suit lists human trafficking, conspiracy to commit human trafficking, negligence and related offenses as causes of action. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

human trafficking

noun

: organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor)

Legal Definition

human trafficking

noun

: the business of inducing a person to perform labor or engage in prostitution through force, fraud, or coercion see also labor trafficking, sex trafficking