Definition of traffic
1a (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 routeb : the information or signals transmitted over a communications system : messages
2 : the volume of customers visiting a business establishment restaurant traffic
3a : the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation systemb : the business of transporting passengers or freight
4a : import and export tradeb : the business of bartering or buying and sellingc : illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity the drug traffic
5a : communication or dealings especially between individuals or groupsb : 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
the traffic will bear
: existing conditions will allow or permit charge what the traffic will bear
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Examples of traffic in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of traffic from the Web
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Domestic air traffic has doubled in the past decade.
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The white, former University of Cincinnati police officer shot and killed black unarmed motorist Sam DuBose in a July 2015 traffic stop.
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If the individuals do not turn themselves in they could be subjected to being arrested if they are pulled over for a traffic violation or renewing licenses and permits in the county.
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More recently, former police officer Michael Slager awaits sentencing in South Carolina after pleading guilty in May to violating Walter Scott’s civil rights by shooting him without justification during a traffic stop.
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Within an hour, traffic began to move through the area again.
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Officers began wearing body cameras in the city last year after the death of Philando Castile, a black man who worked at a local school and who was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop.
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They were not linked to any auto theft report, but then the driver made a traffic violation and the officer tried to pull him over, Lehan said.
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In the past week her office has been flooded with calls and foot traffic.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'traffic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of traffic
Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters
Synonym Discussion of traffic
traffic
Definition of traffic
trafficked
;trafficking
trafficker
nounExamples of traffic in a Sentence
arrested him for trafficking in drugs
Recent Examples of traffic from the Web
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The table with the espresso machine—just beyond Clarke’s line of sight—is well trafficked.
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The U.S. State Department has a $2.5-million price on his head, accusing him of trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine to raise funds for the FARC, and of murdering hundreds of people in the process.
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Police reviewed surveillance footage and denied the incident fit the bill for trafficking.
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The women trafficked were made to work 12 to 14 hours a day and had to pay their traffickers housing fees, transportation costs and hotel expenses and provide their own food, authorities said.
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The case also marked the first labor trafficking conviction and sentencing in Minnesota.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'traffic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of traffic
1540
TRAFFIC Defined for English Language Learners
traffic
playDefinition of traffic for English Language Learners
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: all the vehicles driving along a certain road or in a certain area
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: the movement of airplanes, ships, etc., along routes
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: the amount of people who pass through a certain place or travel in a certain way
traffic
Definition of traffic for English Language Learners
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: to buy or sell something especially illegally
TRAFFIC Defined for Kids
Definition of traffic for Students
1 : the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) along a route
2 : the people or goods carried by train, boat, or airplane or passing along a road, river, or air route
3 : the business of carrying passengers or goods the tourist traffic
4 : the business of buying and selling : commerce
5 : exchange of information They had no traffic with the enemy.
Law Dictionary
traffic
Legal Definition of traffic
1a : import and export trade b : the business of bartering or buying and selling c : illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity the drug traffic
2a : 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
3a : the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system b : the business of transporting passengers or freight
traffic
Legal Definition of traffic
trafficked
trafficking
intransitive verb
: to carry on traffic
transitive verb
1 : to travel over
2 : to engage in the trading or bartering of
trafficker
nounLearn More about traffic
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See words that rhyme with traffic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for traffic Spanish Central: Translation of traffic Nglish: Translation of traffic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of traffic for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about traffic
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