often attributive
1
a(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 route
b
: the information or signals transmitted over a communications system : messages
2
: the volume of customers visiting a business establishment
restaurant traffic
3
a
: the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system
b
: the business of transporting passengers or freight
4
a
: import and export trade
b
: the business of bartering or buying and selling
c
: illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
the drug traffic
5
a
: communication or dealings especially between individuals or groups
b
: exchange
a lively traffic in ideas—
F. L. Allen
F. L. Allen6
: a concentration of participants or players and especially defensive players
force difficult shots in traffic
trafficked; trafficking
1
: to carry on traffic
1
a
: to travel over
heavily trafficked highways
b
: to visit as a customer
a highly trafficked bookstore
trafficker
noun
Synonyms
Examples of traffic in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
arrested him for trafficking in drugs
Recent Examples on the WebCBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
Ahead of the tractor-trailer, the right lane was closed with traffic diverted to the left lane due to construction, state police said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Scottsdale voters are deciding who will fill three open City Council seats in the July 30 election, a race that will determine who shapes policies on key cities issues ranging from short-term rental regulation, to development, to traffic over the next four years.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for traffic 
Noun
The municipal court system that once brought in millions of dollars in fines and fees, often for relatively minor traffic offenses - paid mostly by poor residents - now collects only a fraction of that.
—CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
Ahead of the tractor-trailer, the right lane was closed with traffic diverted to the left lane due to construction, state police said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
Verb
On Friday morning Zambada pleaded not guilty to an array of drug, weapons, money laundering and conspiracy charges, including trafficking the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that has fueled a U.S. epidemic of overdose deaths.
—Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Scottsdale voters are deciding who will fill three open City Council seats in the July 30 election, a race that will determine who shapes policies on key cities issues ranging from short-term rental regulation, to development, to traffic over the next four years.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for traffic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'traffic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to traffic
Dictionary Entries Near traffic
Cite this Entry
“Traffic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
traffic
1 of 2 noun
traf·fic
ˈtraf-ik 
1
: the business of buying and selling : commerce
2
: communication or dealings between persons or groups
had no traffic with the enemy
3
a
: the movement (as of pedestrians or vehicles) through an area or along a route
heavy traffic in the kitchen before dinner
rush-hour traffic
b
: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
c
: a crowded mass of vehicles
stuck in traffic
4
a
: the passengers or goods carried by train, boat, or airplane
b
: the business of carrying passengers or goods
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