traffic

[ traf-ik ]

noun

1. the movement of vehicles, ships, persons, etc., in an area, along a street, through an air lane, over a water route, etc.:

   the heavy traffic on Main Street.

2. the vehicles, persons, etc., moving in an area, along a street, etc.
3. the transportation of goods for the purpose of trade, by sea, land, or air:

   ships of traffic.

4. trade; buying and selling; commercial dealings.
5. trade between different countries or places; commerce.
6. the business done by a railroad or other carrier in the transportation of freight or passengers.
7. the aggregate of freight, passengers, telephone or telegraph messages, etc., handled, especially in a given period.
8. communication, dealings, or contact between persons or groups:

   traffic between the Democrats and the Republicans.

9. mutual exchange or communication:

   traffic in ideas.

10. trade in some specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature:

    the vast traffic in narcotics.

11. illegal commercial trade in human beings for the purpose of exploiting them:

    the traffic in young children.

verb (used without object)

, traf·ficked, traf·fick·ing.

1. to carry on traffic, trade, or commercial dealings.
2. to trade or deal in a specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature (usually followed by in ):

   to traffic in opium.

verb (used with object)

, traf·ficked, traf·fick·ing.

1. (of vehicles or persons) to move over or through (a place):

   It's a heavily trafficked bridge.

2. to trade or deal in (a commodity or service):

   to traffic guns.

3. to trade in (human beings) for the purpose of exploitation:

   He was convicted for trafficking illegal immigrants.

traffic

/ ˈtræfɪk /

noun

1. 1. the vehicles coming and going in a street, town, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      traffic lights

2. the movement of vehicles, people, etc, in a particular place or for a particular purpose

   sea traffic

3. 1. the business of commercial transportation by land, sea, or air
   2. the freight, passengers, etc, transported
4. usually foll by with dealings or business

   have no traffic with that man

5. trade, esp of an illicit or improper kind

   drug traffic

6. the aggregate volume of messages transmitted through a communications system in a given period
7. the number of customers patronizing a commercial establishment in a given time period

verb

1. often foll by in to carry on trade or business, esp of an illicit kind
2. usually foll by with to have dealings

Derived Forms

• ˈtrafficker, noun
• ˈtrafficless, adjective

Other Words From

• traffick·er noun
• traffic·less adjective
• inter·traffic noun verb intertrafficked intertrafficking
• un·trafficked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; earlier traffyk, from Middle French trafique (noun), trafiquer; (verb) from Italian traffico (noun), trafficare (verb), of disputed origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic¹

C16: from Old French trafique , from Old Italian traffico , from trafficare to engage in trade

Synonym Study

See trade.

Example Sentences

One witness said the gunfire began after a traffic collision, which drew the attention of a nearby police officer.

From The Daily Beast

The scene was heavily cordoned off to traffic and anyone not with the police, press, or residents.

From The Daily Beast

That apparently includes some members of the management of the airport itself and some air traffic controllers.

From The Daily Beast

That officer believed my fair-skinned son was white, according to the traffic citation I examined.

From The Daily Beast

Still, I worry that a simple traffic stop could have tragic consequences.

From The Daily Beast

In this traffic he made money so fast that he opened an office, and subsequently a store of his own, in the Escolta.

From Project Gutenberg

Railway expectations ran high; immense traffic receipts, sorely needed, ought to have swelled the coffers of the companies.

From Project Gutenberg

Reasonable facilities for receiving and forwarding traffic The subject of undue preference, which was forbiddenp.

From Project Gutenberg

He was skilful in out-door railway work, and an adept in managing trains and traffic.

From Project Gutenberg

They also took advantage of the necessity of others, in miserly traffic in Beaver skins with the Savages.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• freight
• gridlock
• influx
• movement
• service
• shipment
• transit
• transport
• transportation
• travel