the movement of vehicles, ships, or aircraft along a road, waterway, or air route, the amount of vehicles, pedestrians, or ships moving along a road, waterway, or air route at a particular time, the trade or exchange of goods, especially illegal drugs

traffic in something, traffic court, traffic school

traffic jam, air traffic control, human trafficking

Formal and Informal Expressions of traffic

In different contexts, you can replace 'traffic' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'transportation, conveyance' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'flow, jam' is a commonplace synonym.

traffic: Explore its Definition & Usage

traffic Definition

1the movement of vehicles, ships, or aircraft along a road, waterway, or air route
2the amount of vehicles, pedestrians, or ships moving along a road, waterway, or air route at a particular time
3the trade or exchange of goods, especially illegal drugs

Using traffic: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "traffic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The traffic on the highway was heavy during rush hour.
Example
The port handles a lot of shipping traffic.
Example
The police are cracking down on drug traffic in the area.

traffic Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for traffic

Antonyms for traffic

Idioms Using traffic

traffic in something
to deal or trade in something, often something illegal or unethical
Example
He was arrested for trafficking in stolen goods.
traffic court
a court that deals with traffic violations and related offenses
Example
He had to go to traffic court after getting a speeding ticket.
traffic school
a course that drivers can take to improve their driving skills or reduce points on their driving record
Example
She signed up for traffic school to avoid having her license suspended.

Phrases with traffic

traffic jam
a situation where vehicles are stationary or very slow-moving for a period of time because of congestion on the road
Example
I was late for work because there was a traffic jam on the freeway.
air traffic control
the activity of directing and monitoring the movement of aircraft in order to maintain safe distances between them
Example
Air traffic control is responsible for ensuring that planes do not collide with each other.
human trafficking
the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of forced labor, sexual exploitation, or organ harvesting
Example
Human trafficking is a serious problem in many parts of the world.

Origins of traffic

from Old Italian 'traffico', meaning 'trade'

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Summary: traffic in Brief

The term 'traffic' [ˈtræfɪk] refers to the movement of vehicles, ships, or aircraft along a road, waterway, or air route. It also denotes the amount of vehicles, pedestrians, or ships moving along a route at a particular time. 'Traffic' extends into phrases like 'traffic jam,' and idioms like 'traffic in something,' denoting illegal or unethical trade.