# trafficking

/ˈtɹæfɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈæfɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trafficking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. illegal trade

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

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

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

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

### 3. biological movement

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- Scientists are studying the trafficking of proteins within the brain.
- 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.

## Examples

- The government is working hard to stop human trafficking.
- International agencies are collaborating to dismantle the networks responsible for the trafficking of endangered wildlife across borders.
- The report highlights how digital encryption has inadvertently facilitated the trafficking of illicit substances by allowing dealers to communicate with total anonymity across global markets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.