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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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Taxis will be moved from the regular stand location to Grand Avenue between Streeter Drive and Lake Shore Drive in the special traffic lanes inside the west end of Polk Bros. Park.
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Patrick Vicari, Hammond police traffic division commander.
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Even a little extra anxiety (hello, mall traffic!) can harm your health, as those who feel stressed have a 27 percent increased risk of heart disease, according to research from Columbia University.
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will also close three additional ramps for temporary maintenance beginning July 30, which could add to traffic woes.
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Casino operations and traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard weren't affected.
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The trial of Ray Tensing, a white University of Cincinnati police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man during a traffic stop in July 2015, resulted in a hung jury on Friday, marking the second time Tensing’s case has ended in a mistrial.
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The weather is breezy, the traffic is loud, and tonight, someone is finally going to be named the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
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Heaggan-Brown shot Smith twice on August 13 after a routine traffic stop.
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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Police reviewed surveillance footage and denied the incident fit the bill for trafficking.
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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