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
Explore M-W
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.
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
First Known Use of traffic
1540
TRAFFIC Defined for English Language Learners
traffic
playDefinition of traffic for English Language Learners
-
: all the vehicles driving along a certain road or in a certain area
-
: the movement of airplanes, ships, etc., along routes
-
: the amount of people who pass through a certain place or travel in a certain way
traffic
Definition of traffic for English Language Learners
-
: 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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up traffic? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!