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human trafficking
noun
: organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor)
Examples of human trafficking in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The human trafficking task force is asking the public to notify them if anyone else has been victimized or seen similar ads posted in other areas of San Diego County.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
No criminal charges have been filed against Combs related to these raids, and Homeland Security Investigations has released little information about the case, but a federal official said the inquiry was at least in part a human trafficking investigation, the New York Times reported.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 20 May 2024
More information about human trafficking can be found at www.polarisproject.org.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 18 May 2024
Rosen said that would curtail regional task forces his office leads or supports, including teams that address gun violence, the fentanyl epidemic and human trafficking.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for human trafficking
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'human trafficking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1904, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of human trafficking was
in 1904
Dictionary Entries Near human trafficking
Cite this Entry
“Human trafficking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20trafficking. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
human trafficking
noun
: organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor)
Legal Definition
human trafficking
noun
: the business of inducing a person to perform labor or engage in prostitution through force, fraud, or coercion see also labor trafficking, sex trafficking
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