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
Joan Verdon, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Starlink’s traffic tripled in 2024, according to Business Insider.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2025
Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
Reyes denied molesting or trafficking the girl, portraying himself as a do-gooder who wished to help an unsheltered person in need, according to police.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for traffic 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Adobe Analytics reported last week that traffic to retail sites from generative AI chat bots increased by 1,300% this holiday season, compared to last year.
—Joan Verdon, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Starlink’s traffic tripled in 2024, according to Business Insider.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
Is trafficking a million dollars worth of drugs not enough?
—Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
Reyes denied molesting or trafficking the girl, portraying himself as a do-gooder who wished to help an unsheltered person in need, according to police.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 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 18 Jan. 2025.
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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