collocation · neutral
traffic congestion
UK/ˈtræfɪk kənˈdʒestʃən/US/ˈtræfɪk kənˈdʒɛstʃən/TRAF·fic con·GES·tion
When too many vehicles cause slow or stopped traffic over an area.
Examples
“During rush hour the city centre suffers from severe traffic congestion.”
“New bike lanes helped to reduce traffic congestion on the main road.”
“Residents complain about daily traffic congestion outside their apartment blocks.”
Band 8 sentence
“Long-term investment in public transport and cycling infrastructure is essential if we are to relieve chronic traffic congestion in large urban centres.”
Collocations
- severe traffic congestion
- reduce/alleviate traffic congestion
- traffic congestion in the city centre
Word family
Common mistakes
traffic jams→traffic congestion
there is many traffic congestion→there is a lot of traffic congestion
traffic congestion on the road→traffic congestion in the city / on the road (context based)
Say it for a higher band
5traffic jam→6heavy traffic→7+traffic congestion
Synonyms
traffic jam
heavy traffic
Easily confused
traffic jam
“I was stuck in a traffic jam for an hour because of a broken-down lorry.”
heavy traffic
“Expect heavy traffic on the motorway this weekend.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In City & Urban life
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