trafficked

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "trafficked" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used to refer to people, goods, or services that have been illegally transferred from one country to another. For example: "The humanitarian organization worked to rescue victims of human trafficking who had been trafficked across international borders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Performance, in this case, means having laws that punish traffickers ruthlessly and treat people who are trafficked, especially minors, as victims rather than wrongdoers.

The Economist

I remember having a conversation with Yvette Cooper's adviser, in which he was asking how much we would save from liberating women who had been trafficked.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Figures released by the National Crime Agency in September estimated that 2,744 people, including 602 children, were trafficked for exploitation in the UK in 2013, a 22% increase on 2012, with some forced to work in brothels, others in domestic servitude, and others exploited in factories, on farms and building sites.

The Guardian

He was separated from his mother and trafficked into England at the age of 10 before being left homeless on the streets of London – he had also never played American football until last year.

The Guardian - Sport

This follows evidence collected by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents workers' rights around the world, that migrant workers were being paid lower-than-expected wages, having their passports confiscated, trafficked for forced labour and living in cramped conditions.

The Guardian

It is a story of how a vulnerable teenage girl on holiday in Greece with her mother was trafficked into the sex industry and spent six years as a prostitute – in brothels, on the streets, in dingy hotel rooms – before finally making her escape from a life of relentless physical and sexual abuse.

The Guardian

As well as providing basic health services such as triage, dentistry and obstetrics, the initiative allowed the organisation to identify and help those who are trafficked into the region to work as labourers or in the sex trade.

The Guardian

The study of 240 sex workers – including 196 women, 28 men and 12 transgender people – focused on those who were not trafficked or coerced into selling sex but had chosen to do so, and most worked from within premises rather than on the streets.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

In lesson 11, "Trafficking in Persons", Iraqi recruits are told to "encourage the [trafficked] woman to talk about how this has made her feel about herself and reassure her that she is still worth as much as any other person".

The Economist

Sreymoa, a trafficked sex-worker, detained in May 2008 with her four-year-old daughter, recalls daily beatings, rapes and one death.Partly to allay the previous American administration's concerns about trafficking, Cambodia in February 2008 outlawed prostitution.

The Economist

By the year's end it was one of the most-trafficked sites on the internet, serving up more than 100m videos a day posted by its users.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trafficked", ensure you clearly indicate whether you're referring to people, goods, or information to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "people trafficked for sexual exploitation" or "illegally trafficked goods".

Common error

Avoid using "trafficked" interchangeably with "transported". "Trafficked" implies illegal movement and exploitation, whereas "transported" simply means moved from one place to another. Use "trafficked" only when exploitation is involved.

Linguistic Context

The word "trafficked" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "traffic". As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used to describe individuals or goods that have been illegally transported, often implying exploitation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "trafficked", as Ludwig AI confirms, functions as a verb describing the illegal movement of people, goods, or services, often involving exploitation. Its usage is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "trafficked", it's important to distinguish it from similar terms like "transported" and "smuggled", emphasizing the exploitative aspect. Remember to specify whether people, goods or information are "trafficked" for clarity. Common authoritative sources, like The Guardian and The Economist, frequently employ the term, solidifying its place in formal and news reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

victims of human trafficking

Focuses on the victims' status and the broader crime of human trafficking.

smuggled

Replaces "trafficked" with a term often used for illegal movement across borders, but may not always imply exploitation.

driven into slavery

Emphasizes the result of trafficking, which is often slavery or servitude.

forced into labor

Focuses specifically on the aspect of forced labor, highlighting the exploitation involved.

coerced into prostitution

Highlights coercion and forced involvement in prostitution, a specific type of human trafficking.

sexually exploited

Highlights the sexual exploitation aspect of trafficking, often used when discussing human trafficking for sexual purposes.

illegally transported

A more general term that describes the illegal movement of people or goods, without necessarily implying exploitation.

subjected to forced migration

Emphasizes the involuntary nature of the relocation.

moved illicitly

Similar to illegally transported, but emphasizes the secretive nature of the movement.

shipped illegally

Implies transportation of goods or people in a clandestine manner.

FAQs

How is "trafficked" typically used in a sentence?

The word "trafficked" is typically used to describe the illegal movement of people or goods, often involving exploitation. For instance, "The girls were "trafficked" for sexual exploitation" or "The drugs were "trafficked" across the border".

What are some alternatives to using the word "trafficked"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "smuggled", "illegally transported", or "forced into labor". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between being "trafficked" and being "smuggled"?

While both involve illegal movement, ""trafficked"" implies exploitation after the movement, such as forced labor or sexual exploitation. "Smuggled" generally refers to the illegal movement itself, without necessarily implying subsequent exploitation.

Is it accurate to say someone was "trafficked" if they were simply moved across a border illegally?

Not necessarily. The term ""trafficked"" carries the connotation of exploitation. If someone was only moved illegally but not exploited, terms like "smuggled" or "illegally transported" would be more accurate.