Synonyms of traffic

traffic 1 of 2

noun

ˈtra-fik 

as in commerce

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commerce
• marketplace
• trade
• business
• dealings
• free trade
• black market
• gray market
• merchandising
• retailing
• horse-trading
• wholesaling
• bartering
• e-tail

traffic

2 of 2

verb

as in to trade

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

arrested him for trafficking in drugs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trade
• deal
• negotiate
• sell
• smuggle
• merchandise
• exchange
• market
• retail
• transact
• purchase
• bargain
• supply
• wholesale
• swap
• buy
• auction
• merchandize
• barter
• fence
• horse-trade
• resell
• peddle
• distribute
• invest
• vend
• corner
• take
• monopolize
• pick up
• bootleg
• black-market
• speculate
• engross
• undersell
• rebuy
• day-trade
• fair-trade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• boycott
• black
• blackball

Synonym Chooser

How is the word traffic distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of traffic are business, commerce, industry, and trade. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Where would business be a reasonable alternative to traffic?

While the synonyms business and traffic are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

How are the words commerce and trade related as synonyms of traffic?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When would industry be a good substitute for traffic?

The words industry and traffic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

Examples of traffic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whether its disasters involved muffins or murder, tornadoes or traffic accidents, Desperate Housewives delivered outlandish, soapy twists for eight salacious seasons. —Danny Horn, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024

The plan, intended to prevent more traffic congestion and safeguard existing infrastructure, was developed by city, state and business leaders who make up the Maricopa Association of Government's Regional Transportation Committee. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024

Verb

Police later determined she’d been trafficked in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Oakland, and passed around between multiple pimps, two of whom were later arrested in Nevada, court records show. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024

The absolute worse border is located in Sasabe and found the drugs are being trafficked across the Chilton Ranch and picked up in Arivaca, Arizona. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2024