noun
Common
trafficking
Trafficking (noun) means the illegal trade of goods or people. Example: “Police said the trafficking of stolen goods across the border had increased.”
noun
1
The illegal trade of goods or people.
"Police said the trafficking of stolen goods across the border had increased."
"Stricter laws were introduced to combat wildlife trafficking."
"The organisation campaigns against human trafficking worldwide."
How to use trafficking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIllegal trading, most commonly used for drugs, weapons, or the exploitation of people.
Common pairings
human trafficking
drug trafficking
trafficking ring
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Word forms
- Plural
- traffickings
Fill the gap
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Police said the _____ of stolen goods across the border had increased.
Etymology
Formed from traffic and -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for trafficking
licking
picking
kicking
dicking
ticking
nicking
fricking
sticking
pricking
clicking
tricking
flicking
See all rhymes for trafficking →
Frequently asked questions
What does “trafficking” mean?
The word “trafficking” means the illegal trade of goods or people. In plain terms, illegal trading, most commonly used for drugs, weapons, or the exploitation of people.
How do you use “trafficking” in a sentence?
Here is “trafficking” used in a sentence: “The organisation campaigns against human trafficking worldwide.”
What part of speech is “trafficking”?
“Trafficking” is a noun.
Is “trafficking” a common word?
“Trafficking” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between trafficking and smuggling?
Smuggling means secretly moving goods or people across borders, and afterwards a smuggled person is usually free to go. Trafficking is the illegal trade of goods or people, and in human trafficking it centers on ongoing exploitation and control rather than just transport.
What is the difference between trafficking and dealing?
Both describe illegal trade, but dealing usually refers to selling drugs, often at a smaller or local level. Trafficking implies large-scale illegal trade of goods or people, frequently across regions or borders.
What preposition is used with trafficking?
Trafficking is normally followed by in, as in trafficking in drugs or trafficking in weapons. It also appears in set compounds such as human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Does trafficking always refer to people?
No. As the illegal trade of goods or people, trafficking can cover illegal dealing in drugs, weapons, or wildlife, as well as human trafficking. The intended meaning usually comes from the surrounding words.
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