ENGLISH
REFERENCE

trafficking

n.
US //ˈtɹæfɪkɪŋ// UK //tɹˈæfɪkɪŋ// traf·fick·ing
  1. 1 illegal trade (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    the illegal buying and selling of goods, such as drugs or weapons.

    the illicit trade or exchange of prohibited commodities, typically involving organized criminal networks.

    Example

    The government is trying to stop the trafficking of illegal weapons across the border.

    Example

    International agencies have intensified their efforts to disrupt the maritime routes used for the trafficking of narcotics and counterfeit goods.

    Usage

    Often used with a modifying noun like 'drug' or 'arms'.
  2. 2 exploitation of people (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    the crime of moving or tricking people so they can be used for forced work.

    the recruitment, transportation, or receipt of persons by means of threat or deception for the purpose of exploitation.

    Example

    Charities work hard to help victims of human trafficking find safety.

    Example

    The new legislation aims to provide better protection for survivors of human trafficking while increasing the penalties for those who profit from forced labor.

    Usage

    Commonly appears in the phrase 'human trafficking'.
    • human trafficking
    • modern slavery
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 biological movement (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the way proteins or other small things move through a living body.

    the regulated movement of proteins, enzymes, or vesicles through specific pathways within a cell or tissue.

    Example

    Scientists are studying the trafficking of proteins within the brain.

    Example

    Defects in the endosomal trafficking of certain enzymes have been linked to the development of neurodegenerative disorders.

    Usage

    Usually refers to intracellular or molecular movement.

© 2026 English Reference