traction

noun

trac·tion | \ ˈtrak-shən

Definition of traction

1a : the adhesive friction of a body on a surface on which it moves the traction of a wheel on a rail

b : a pulling force exerted on a skeletal structure (as in a fracture) by means of a special device a traction splint also : a state of tension created by such a pulling force a leg in traction

2 : the act of drawing : the state of being drawn also : the force exerted in drawing

3 : the support or interest that is needed for something to make progress or succeed a product that is starting to gain traction among consumers … the litmus test issues of abortion and gay marriage have been losing traction, subordinated to the Iraq war and terrorism.— Thomas B. Edsall As many economists have noted, cutting spending is the worst thing people with means can do for the economy right now. But that argument seems to have little traction, especially because even those with steady paychecks and no fear of losing their job have seen their net worth decline and their retirement savings evaporate.— Shaila Dewan

4 : the drawing of a vehicle by motive power also : the motive power employed

Other Words from traction Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about traction

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Did You Know?

A tractor is something that pulls something else. We usually use the word for a piece of farm machinery, but it's also the name of the part of a big truck that includes the engine and the cab. Tractors get terrific traction, because of their powerful engines and the deep ridges on their huge wheels. A cross-country skier needs traction to kick herself forward, but doesn't want it to slow her down when she's gliding, so the bottom of the skis may have a "fish-scale" surface that permits both of these at the same time.

Examples of traction in a Sentence

These tires get good traction on wet roads. A patch of ice caused the car to lose traction. She was in traction for three weeks after she broke her hip. The bill failed to gain traction in the Senate. We didn't get traction on this idea until the board took interest.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Senate on Monday introduced legislation to overhaul the U.S. retirement system, a sign that efforts to revamp retirement-savings plans are gaining traction. — Anne Tergesen, WSJ, "Retirement Overhaul Gains Traction With Senate Bill," 1 Apr. 2019 Fluff’s the Stuff Women have long understood the cozy, body-enveloping appeal of an oversize sweater, but the look is gaining traction with guys, too. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "6 Street Style Trends From the Fall 2019 Menswear Shows," 31 Jan. 2019 Since then, the Alabama native's music career has also gained traction after the show with the release of his 2018 album, Country as Cornbread. — Blair Donovan, Country Living, "'The Voice' Contestant Jackson Marlow Has a Famous Uncle Who You'll Definitely Recognize," 19 Mar. 2019 The piece, which gained traction online and was recently covered by other news outlets, had some questioning: Do AirPods actually cause cancer? — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Can AirPods and Other Wireless Headphones Really Cause Cancer?," 17 Mar. 2019 Ivanka Trump was an especially important advocate of the Investing in Opportunity Act, which was first proposed under the Obama administration but never gained traction then. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Ivanka Trump reportedly advocated for a tax break she and Jared Kushner could profit from," 12 Dec. 2018 But in the late ‘00s, as Google’s power grew, one complaint started to gain traction. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "The long, tortured quest to make Google unbiased," 6 Dec. 2018 Credit-card penetration in China, however, is low compared with the U.S. Apple’s own digital-wallet service, Apple Pay, has also failed to gain traction in the country since its launch three years ago. — Stella Yifan Xie, WSJ, "Apple to Chinese Consumers: Buy a New iPhone for Under $30 a Month, Interest Free," 21 Feb. 2019 Blending hearing and deaf actors in the same production has gained traction in Seattle theaters. — Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, "Here’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ like you’ve never seen it, with the star-crossed lovers bridging the gap between American Sign Language and English," 20 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'traction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

2 May 2019

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Time Traveler for traction

The first known use of traction was in 1608

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More Definitions for traction

traction

noun

English Language Learners Definition of traction

: the force that causes a moving thing to stick against the surface it is moving along

: the power that is used to pull something

medical : a way of treating broken bones in which a device gently pulls the bones back into place

See the full definition for traction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

traction

noun

trac·tion | \ ˈtrak-shən

Kids Definition of traction

: the force that causes a moving thing to slow down or to stick against the surface it is moving along The wheels get more traction when the road is dry.

traction

noun

trac·tion | \ ˈtrak-shən

Medical Definition of traction

1 : the pulling of or tension established in one body part by another

2 : a pulling force exerted on a skeletal structure (as in a fracture) by means of a special device or apparatus a traction splint also : a state of tension created by such a pulling force a leg in traction