Traffic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtra-fik/ traf·fic

Meaning & Definition of Traffic

Traffic (noun)

  1. the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
  2. congestion of vehicles
  3. the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route

Traffic (verb)

  1. to carry on traffic
  2. to concentrate one's effort or interest; broadly, engage, deal
  3. to travel over

Traffic (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places

    "they contributed money to an environmental group that works to end the traffic of endangered animals"

    similar: business, commerce, marketplace, trade
    related: free trade, black market, gray market, dealings, horse-trading, e-tail, merchandising, retailing, wholesaling, bartering

Traffic (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property

    "arrested him for trafficking in drugs"

    similar: deal, trade
    related: bargain, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact, auction, exchange, merchandise, rebuy, resell, swap, buy, pick up, purchase, take, distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail, sell, supply, vend, wholesale, black-market, bootleg, fence, smuggle, corner, engross, monopolize, undersell, day-trade, invest, speculate
    near: black (chiefly British), blackball, boycott

Related Entry: Traffic (in) (verb)

Traffic (in) is a different word from Traffic. The synonyms below are for traffic (in), not for traffic.

  1. as in trade, handle

    similar: barter, distribute, exchange, export, handle, trade, deal (in), market, merchandise, put up, retail, sell, vend, presell, wholesale, remarket, resell, hawk, peddle, advertise, ballyhoo, boost, plug, promote, tout, bargain, chaffer, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, palter, auction, provide, supply
    opposite: buy, import, purchase, receive

Related Entry: Traffic circle (noun)

Traffic circle is a different word from Traffic. The synonyms below are for traffic circle, not for traffic.

  1. as in circle, rotary

    similar: circle, rotary, roundabout (British), cloverleaf, interchange, overpass, underpass, carrefour, corner, crossing, crossroad, crossway(s), intersection, junction

Related Entry: Traffic circles (noun)

Traffic circles is a different word from Traffic. The synonyms below are for traffic circles, not for traffic.

  1. as in circles, rotaries

    similar: circles, rotaries, roundabouts (British), cloverleafs, interchanges, overpasses, underpasses, carrefours, corners, crossings, crossroads, crossways, intersections, junctions

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Traffic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Traffic:

business, commerce, marketplace, trade, deal

Related Words for Traffic

free trade, black market, gray market, dealings, horse-trading, e-tail, merchandising, retailing, wholesaling, bartering, bargain, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact, auction, exchange, merchandise, rebuy, resell, swap, buy, pick up, purchase, take, distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail

Near Antonyms of Traffic

black, blackball, boycott

Word Forms of Traffic

Inflections: trafficked, trafficking

Derived words: trafficker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Traffic

Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters

First known use: 1511

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Traffic

Words & Phrases Containing Traffic

traffic circle, traffic cone, traffic court, traffic engineering, traffic island, traffic light, traffic signal, traffic stop

Frequently Asked Questions about Traffic

What does "Traffic" mean?

"Traffic" means the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Traffic"?

Other words for "Traffic" include business, commerce, marketplace, trade and deal. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Traffic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Traffic"?

There are 50 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Traffic". Common alternatives include business, commerce, marketplace, trade and deal.

How do you use "Traffic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Traffic" in a sentence: "they contributed money to an environmental group that works to end the traffic of endangered animals"; "arrested him for trafficking in drugs".

Is "Traffic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Traffic" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Traffic" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Traffic" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Traffic"?

"Traffic" is pronounced /ˈtra-fik/ and divided into syllables as traf·fic.

What is the origin of the word "Traffic"?

"Traffic" comes from Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters. First known use: 1511.