Meaning & use
thru traffic
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountableAmericaninformal
Traffic that is just passing through an area and is not stopping there.
Grammar: Uncountable; it takes a singular verb: 'Thru traffic is heavy today.'
Patterns
- thru traffic
- no thru traffic
- thru traffic only
The sign said 'No Thru Traffic,' so we had to turn around.
This street is for local cars only; thru traffic should use the highway.
Thru traffic was backed up for miles because of the accident ahead.
Common combinations
- no thru traffic
- The neighborhood posted a 'No Thru Traffic' sign to keep out commuters.
- thru traffic only
- That lane is marked 'Thru Traffic Only' during rush hour.
- local and thru traffic
- The new bridge separates local and thru traffic.
- thru traffic is heavy
- Thru traffic is heavy on the main road every weekday morning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pass-through traffic
- This is a more formal term with the same meaning, often used in planning documents.
- transit traffic
- 'Transit traffic' can also mean traffic passing through a country or region, often in a trade or travel context.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: thru traffic or through traffic?
thru traffic vs through traffic
This is the standard spelling; 'thru traffic' is the informal, sign-friendly version.
Practice
What does a 'No Thru Traffic' sign mean?
Choose one answer.
'No Thru Traffic' means vehicles that are just passing through should not use the road; local traffic is still allowed. Option 0 is too strong, and option 2 misreads 'thru' as 'quickly'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thru traffic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.