trafficking

/ˈtræfɪkɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtræfɪkɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

trafficking — noun

1. the crime of buying, selling, or moving goods such as drugs, weapons, or protect

1.名詞B2
釋義

the crime of buying, selling, or moving goods such as drugs, weapons, or protected animals in a way that is against the law

例句

Customs officers discovered a major drug trafficking operation at the port.

collocation: drug trafficking

The new international agreement aims to stop wildlife trafficking of endangered species.

collocation: wildlife trafficking

同義詞
  • smuggling

    focuses on moving goods across a border illegally; trafficking covers buying, selling, and moving within a single country too

  • illegal trade

    broader term that includes any prohibited commerce; trafficking implies organised criminal activity

文法句型

trafficking in + type of goods

modifier + trafficking

用法筆記

Often used with a preceding noun specifying the type of goods: 'drug trafficking', 'arms trafficking', 'wildlife trafficking'. The pattern 'trafficking in + goods' (e.g. 'trafficking in stolen artifacts') is also common in formal and legal writing. This sense is always uncountable — never 'a trafficking' or 'traffickings'.

常見錯誤

❌He was arrested for drug traffic.
✅He was arrested for drug trafficking.
💡'Traffic' as a noun refers to vehicles on the road; the crime is always 'trafficking'.

2. the crime of taking or moving people by force or deception and then forcing them

2.名詞B2
釋義

the crime of taking or moving people by force or deception and then forcing them to work, especially in the sex industry or as unpaid labourers

例句

Aylin's research focuses on preventing human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

collocation: human trafficking

Police rescued twelve victims of sex trafficking from a network of hidden apartments.

collocation: sex trafficking victims

同義詞
  • modern slavery

    broader term covering all forms of forced exploitation, not just movement of people

文法句型

human trafficking

sex trafficking

labour trafficking

trafficking victim

用法筆記

Frequently combined with a modifier: 'human trafficking' (general), 'sex trafficking' (for sexual exploitation), 'labour trafficking' (for forced work). The victims are referred to as 'trafficking victims' or 'survivors of trafficking'. Distinguish from smuggling: smuggling involves voluntary movement across borders, whereas trafficking involves coercion, deception, or force. In legal and news contexts, 'human trafficking' is the standard formal term.

常見錯誤

❌She is a victim of sex traffic.
✅She is a victim of sex trafficking.
💡The noun form for the crime is 'trafficking', never 'traffic'.
❌Human trafficking is the same as people smuggling.
✅Human trafficking involves force or deception; smuggling is voluntary illegal border crossing.
💡These are legally and conceptually distinct.