often attributive
1
a(1)
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
(2)
: congestion of vehicles
stuck in traffic
(3)
: the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route
b
: the information or signals transmitted over a communications system : messages
2
: the volume of customers visiting a business establishment
restaurant traffic
3
a
: the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system
b
: the business of transporting passengers or freight
4
a
: import and export trade
b
: the business of bartering or buying and selling
c
: illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
the drug traffic
5
a
: communication or dealings especially between individuals or groups
b
: exchange
a lively traffic in ideas F. L. Allen
6
: a concentration of participants or players and especially defensive players
force difficult shots in traffic
7
archaic : wares, goods

traffic

2 of 2

verb

trafficked; trafficking

intransitive verb

1
: to carry on traffic
2
: to concentrate one's effort or interest
broadly : engage, deal
a writer who often traffics in hyperbole

transitive verb

1
a
: to travel over
heavily trafficked highways
b
: to visit as a customer
a highly trafficked bookstore
2
trafficker noun
Phrases
the traffic will bear
: existing conditions will allow or permit
charge what the traffic will bear
Choose the Right Synonym for traffic

business, commerce, trade, industry, traffic mean activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities.

business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Examples of traffic in a Sentence

Noun Let's leave early to avoid rush hour traffic. Traffic is backed up to the bridge. Barge traffic was halted because of flooding. Airlines saw a decrease in passenger traffic this year. Verb arrested him for trafficking in drugs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Since the flight that crash landed in Toronto on Monday originated in the U.S., one of my colleagues wanted to know how much of a part the Federal Aviation Administration and the rest of the U.S. air traffic and safety system played in the incident. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 The traffic alert was reported Tuesday at 5:42 p.m., and the most recent report regarding this incident was released on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. U.S. 71 Current Incidents: There are currently no traffic incidents reported in this area. Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
Hong Kong recently sent a task force to Thailand to follow-up on 12 cases of Hong Kongers trafficked into Southeast Asian countries and forced into labor. Chloe Berger, Fortune Asia, 20 Jan. 2025 The lawsuit also referenced a 2023 incident in which musician David Ryan Harris, who is Black, was stopped on the jetway by an American Airlines employee and police officers in Atlanta and accused of trafficking his own kids, who are biracial. Liam Quinn, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for traffic 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters

First Known Use

Noun

1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1537, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of traffic was in 1511

Dictionary Entries Near traffic

Cite this Entry

“Traffic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

traffic

1 of 2 noun
1
: the business of buying and selling : commerce
2
: communication or dealings between persons or groups
had no traffic with the enemy
3
a
: the movement (as of pedestrians or vehicles) through an area or along a route
heavy traffic in the kitchen before dinner
rush-hour traffic
b
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
c
: a crowded mass of vehicles
stuck in traffic
4
a
: the passengers or goods carried by train, boat, or airplane
b
: the business of carrying passengers or goods

traffic

2 of 2 verb
trafficked; trafficking
: to carry on traffic : trade, deal
trafficker noun

Legal Definition

traffic

1 of 2 noun
traf·​fic
often attributive
1
a
: import and export trade
b
: the business of bartering or buying and selling
c
: illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
the drug traffic
2
a
: the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route
b
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
c
: the information or signals transmitted over a communications system
3
a
: the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system
b
: the business of transporting passengers or freight

traffic

2 of 2 verb
trafficked; trafficking

intransitive verb

: to carry on traffic

transitive verb

1
: to travel over
2
: to engage in the trading or bartering of
trafficker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on traffic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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