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 Web
Sarah Darby, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The chase continued for several miles at high speed through heavy traffic.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Matthew Crowley, Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
In October, the Ministry of the Interior announced that twenty-one Saudis had been arrested on suspicion of belonging to a gang that trafficked captagon into the Riyadh region.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for traffic 
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Noun
Stick to sidewalks, or if there aren’t sidewalks available, stay on the shoulder of the road, facing traffic, so both drivers and pedestrians can see each other clearly.
—Sarah Darby, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The chase continued for several miles at high speed through heavy traffic.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
The report doesn’t state how many children have actually been trafficked.
—Matthew Crowley, Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
In October, the Ministry of the Interior announced that twenty-one Saudis had been arrested on suspicion of belonging to a gang that trafficked captagon into the Riyadh region.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for traffic
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 26 Nov. 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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