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Traffic Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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traffic

[ˈtræfɪk ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

road

Vehicles moving on a road or public highway, especially during peak hours.

Synonyms

congestion, gridlock, jam.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
traffic

Refers to the movement of vehicles on roads. It is a general term and can be used in everyday conversations about road conditions.

  • The traffic is heavy this morning.
  • We need to leave early to avoid rush hour traffic.
congestion

Describes a situation where there is an excessive amount of vehicles on the road, causing slower movement and delays. It is often used in formal reports or discussions about urban planning.

  • The city's congestion has worsened over the past decade.
  • Traffic congestion is a serious problem during peak hours.
gridlock

Refers to a complete standstill of traffic, where vehicles are unable to move in any direction. It is often used to emphasize severe traffic problems and may carry a negative connotation.

  • The accident caused a gridlock on the highway.
  • The city center is notorious for its gridlock during the festival.
jam

A more informal term for a large number of vehicles causing slow or stopped traffic. It is often used in everyday conversation and can indicate frustration.

  • We're stuck in a traffic jam.
  • The snowstorm resulted in massive traffic jams across the city.

Examples of usage

  • The traffic on the highway was at a standstill due to an accident.
  • I got stuck in traffic on my way to work this morning.
Context #2 | Noun

internet

The amount of data sent and received by visitors to a website.

Synonyms

hits, page views, visitors.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
traffic

This term is broadly used in digital marketing to refer to the amount of data received and sent by visitors to a website. It can be used in both informal and formal contexts to describe the overall volume of visitors or interactions on a website.

  • The website's traffic increased significantly after the social media campaign
  • We need to find ways to boost our site traffic
visitors

This term refers to the actual number of individuals who visit a website. Unlike hits, it counts unique users and is crucial for understanding the scope of your audience. It's often used in marketing and analytics to measure reach and engagement.

  • Our site welcomed over 5,000 visitors last month
  • We need to convert more visitors into paying customers
hits

This term refers to the number of times a webpage or resource is requested from a server. Technically, it's not the same as the number of visitors, because a single visit can generate multiple hits. It is often used in discussions about server performance and analytics.

  • Our server received millions of hits during the promotional event
  • The page got so many hits that the website crashed for a while
page views

This term is used to describe the total number of times a specific webpage is viewed. It can be important for understanding how popular or engaging a particular page is. It's commonly used in web analytics and performance metrics.

  • The blog post received over 10,000 page views in the first week
  • Increasing page views is critical for advertising revenue

Examples of usage

  • The website crashed due to high traffic.
  • The increase in traffic to the online store resulted in more sales.
Context #3 | Noun

illegal trade

The illegal buying and selling of goods, especially drugs.

Synonyms

black market, smuggling, trafficking.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
traffic

Can denote the illegal trade or exchange of goods or services, especially when related to drugs or humans. Always carries a negative connotation.

  • He was involved in drug traffic for many years.
  • Efforts to combat human traffic have increased.
smuggling

The act of illegally transporting goods or people across borders, often used in legal, criminal, and international contexts. Typically has a negative connotation.

  • They were arrested for smuggling drugs into the country.
  • Authorities cracked down on the smuggling ring last week.
black market

An illegal trading system for goods or services that are not allowed by law, often used in economic, legal, and criminal discussions.

  • He bought those rare items on the black market.
  • Authorities are trying to shut down the black market for stolen goods.
trafficking

Primarily refers to the illegal trade or movement of individuals or goods, especially related to drugs, humans, or weapons. Always negative and often used in legal and criminal contexts.

  • Human trafficking is a serious global issue.
  • The court sentenced him to prison for drug trafficking.

Examples of usage

  • Authorities cracked down on the drug traffic in the area.
  • He was arrested for involvement in human trafficking.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'traffic'

The word 'traffic' originated from the Middle French word 'trafique', meaning trade or commerce. Over time, it expanded to encompass the movement of vehicles, goods, and information. The concept of traffic has evolved with the growth of cities and technology, leading to various forms such as road traffic, internet traffic, and illegal trade.

See also: trafficker, trafficking.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,498, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.