speed bump

noun

: a low raised ridge across a roadway (as in a parking lot) to limit vehicle speed

Examples of speed bump in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two speed bumps sit directly in front of Devonshire Elementary, but there are no speed calming measures further down the road. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026

While no real fans will turn off their NFL games because of some broadcast booth drama, the entire situation is a rare speed bump for what is otherwise the most reliable bet in all of TV. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026

Losing that game and getting blown out 7-1 on the road by New Jersey on Thursday night were speed bumps along the way for a team that has won six of its first nine games. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

The rebuttal, though methodical and logical, was little more than a momentary speed bump for the runaway popularity of the psychedelic bread story. — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for speed bump

• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump
• slump

Kids Definition

speed bump

noun

: a low raised ridge across a roadway (as in a parking lot) to limit vehicle speed