traffic

Transitive Verb[C/U] Both

past: traffickedpp: traffickeding: trafficking

The word carries a strong sense of flow and volume. When applied to roads, it evokes a feeling of congestion or a steady stream of movement. It is neutral when describing urban planning but becomes negative when describing a jam or gridlock.

Uncountable when referring to the general flow of cars on a highway. Countable when referring to specific types of commercial trade, such as the traffic of illicit arms.

Meanings

Noun

The movement of vehicles or pedestrians along a road or public highway.

"The heavy traffic made me late for the meeting."

Noun

The amount of data moving across a network.

"The website crashed due to an unexpected surge in traffic."

Noun

The illegal trade or dealing of goods or people.

"The police are cracking down on the traffic of endangered species."

Transitive Verb

[something]

To trade or deal in something, often illegally.

"The gang was caught trafficking stolen electronics."

Last Updated: May 27, 2026•Report an Error