traffic
/ˈtræfɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtræfɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtra-fik/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtræf.ɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtræf.ɪk/ (ame, ipa)
traffic — noun
1. cars, buses, and other vehicles travelling on roads, together with how busy the
cars, buses, and other vehicles travelling on roads, together with how busy the roads are
The morning rush-hour traffic made Bao nearly thirty minutes late for work.
collocation: rush-hour traffic
Christopher checked the map for a side road with less traffic on it.
Traffic on the highway slowed to a crawl after a truck overturned near the bridge.
Heavy traffic on the ring road forced Dewi to find an alternative route through the suburbs.
During the holiday weekend, traffic heading toward the coast was backed up for several kilometres.
- congestion
specifically refers to roads being blocked or crowded; stronger negative connotation than traffic
- gridlock
extreme traffic jam where vehicles cannot move at all; more dramatic than general traffic
- rush hour
the peak period of heavy traffic, not the vehicles themselves
文法句型
traffic as an uncountable noun
用法筆記
Traffic is an uncountable noun in this sense. Do not say 'a traffic' or 'traffics'. Use 'a lot of traffic', 'heavy traffic', or 'little traffic' instead.
常見錯誤
2. the movement of passengers or cargo by road, rail, air, or sea, considered as a
the movement of passengers or cargo by road, rail, air, or sea, considered as a commercial activity
The railway company reported a twenty percent increase in freight traffic this quarter.
collocation: freight traffic / passenger traffic
Air traffic between the two islands has grown since the new airline began daily flights.
The port handles most of the shipping traffic that passes through the region.
Rising fuel costs have affected road traffic as transport companies raise their delivery prices.
文法句型
traffic of [goods/passengers]
用法筆記
Often modified by a mode of transport (air traffic, rail traffic, road traffic, shipping traffic) or type of load (freight traffic, passenger traffic). Distinguish from sense 1 (VEHICLES ON ROAD), which focuses on congestion and road conditions rather than commercial movement.
常見錯誤
3. the business of buying and selling goods that are forbidden by law, such as narc
the business of buying and selling goods that are forbidden by law, such as narcotics, weapons, or protected animals and plants
Police arrested four people in connection with the illegal arms traffic across the border.
collocation: drug traffic / arms traffic
The government has launched a new campaign to stop the traffic of endangered species.
Police forces from six countries worked together to fight the traffic of heroin from Southeast Asia.
Customs officers seized millions of dollars worth of goods linked to the ivory traffic.
- trafficking
the more common term for the activity; 'traffic' as a noun sounds more formal or journalistic
- smuggling
implies moving goods secretly across borders, while traffic can include domestic trade
- black market
refers to the entire illegal economy, not just the trade activity
文法句型
traffic in [contraband]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'in' to specify the type of goods (e.g., 'traffic in drugs', 'traffic in arms'). Common in news reporting, law enforcement, and legal documents.
常見錯誤
4. data moving through a computer network, or how often people visit a particular w
data moving through a computer network, or how often people visit a particular website
The company's website traffic doubled after the new advertisement appeared online.
collocation: website traffic / web traffic
Network traffic slows down in the evening when many people stream videos in their homes.
The server could not handle the sudden traffic from an online post.
Online stores see the heaviest traffic during the weeks just before Christmas.
Amira checked the site's traffic data to see which pages readers liked most.
文法句型
traffic + noun (traffic data, traffic volume)
用法筆記
Often paired with modifiers such as 'web', 'network', 'site', 'data', or 'email' to specify the type of traffic. 'High traffic' means many visitors; 'low traffic' means few visitors.
常見錯誤
5. in motor racing, the slower cars behind the leading group that can block or slow
in motor racing, the slower cars behind the leading group that can block or slow down faster drivers who are trying to pass them on the track
The champion driver skillfully moved through the traffic to retake the lead on lap thirty.
motor racing context
A crash ahead brought out a yellow flag, bunching the traffic behind the safety car.
A slow pit stop left the young racer stuck in traffic and unable to catch up.
Team managers asked race control to clear slower traffic so the leaders could race cleanly.
- backmarkers
specifically the slower cars that are a lap or more behind the leaders
- field
all the cars in the race collectively, not just the slower ones
文法句型
through traffic
in traffic
用法筆記
This sense is specific to motorsport commentary and analysis. In racing, 'traffic' is almost always a problem — the leading driver loses time because slower cars are in the way. Distinguish from sense 1 (VEHICLES ON ROAD), which applies to everyday roads.
6. in sports like basketball or ice hockey, the situation where a large number of d
in sports like basketball or ice hockey, the situation where a large number of defending players crowd into a small area of the playing space, making it hard to shoot or pass
The point guard drove toward the basket but found too much traffic to shoot cleanly.
basketball context
Heavy traffic in front of the net meant the hockey player could not see the puck.
The coach told the forwards to spread out and avoid creating traffic near the hoop.
A quick pass through heavy traffic gave the forward an open look at the goal.
- crowd
less specific; can refer to any group, not just defenders in a sports context
- congestion
similar meaning but slightly more formal; used in analysis rather than play-by-play commentary
文法句型
too much traffic
traffic in the [area]
用法筆記
This sense is used in basketball and ice hockey commentary. 'Traffic' refers to the defensive congestion itself, not the individual players. Distinguish from sense 5 (RACING OBSTACLES), which is about slower cars blocking leaders on a track.
traffic — verb
- trafficpresent simple I / you / we / they
- traffics3rd person singular
- trafficking-ing form
- traffickedpast simple
1. to trade in items that the law forbids, doing so as a regular business activity
to trade in items that the law forbids, doing so as a regular business activity
The gang was arrested for trafficking in stolen art and valuable antiques.
pattern: traffic in [illegal goods]
Dario was convicted of trafficking drugs across the state border into a neighbouring country.
Several companies were caught trafficking in rare animal skins protected by international law.
The new law imposes harsher sentences on anyone convicted of trafficking weapons.
- trade legally
the lawful counterpart involving regulated goods
文法句型
traffic in [illegal goods]
用法筆記
Always used with 'in' when the object of trade is stated (e.g., 'traffic in drugs'). Without 'in', the direct object can follow, but this is less common in formal writing. The noun form 'trafficking' is more frequent than the verb in everyday use.
常見錯誤
2. to buy, sell, or transport human beings by force, deception, or coercion for the
to buy, sell, or transport human beings by force, deception, or coercion for the purpose of making money from their labour or sexual exploitation
The international organisation works to rescue women and children who have been trafficked.
passive: be trafficked
Police uncovered a criminal network that had been trafficking migrants across the desert.
A task force rescued thirty men who had been trafficked from Bangladesh to work on fishing boats.
Naoko volunteers at a shelter that helps young people who were trafficked into the city.
文法句型
traffic [people] / be trafficked
用法筆記
Unlike verb sense 1 (DEAL ILLEGALLY), this sense takes a direct object — the people being exploited. The passive form ('were trafficked') is extremely common. 'Human trafficking' is the related noun form most often used in news and law.