chop shop

noun

: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped of salable parts

Examples of chop shop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Garcia was detained and later arrested on two counts of grand theft auto, one count of owning or aiding in operating a chop shop, and one count of forging or altering a vehicle title, according to his arrest report. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026 Chacon pleaded guilty to felony charges of motor vehicle theft, forgery, and operating a chop shop, prosecutors said. Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2025 One time, the chop shop made brownies out of beets, according to Avner. Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Willets Point remains in memory as a forgotten triangle of chop shops and potholes, either of which could swallow a Bronco whole. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chop shop

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chop shop was in 1977

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chop shop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chop%20shop. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

chop shop

noun
: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped for salable parts

Legal Definition

chop-shop

noun
ˈchäp-ˌshäp
: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped of salable parts

More from Merriam-Webster on chop shop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster