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
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.
While losing the federal tax credits is not great, Mahvi says that these policy changes are more of a speed bump than a car crash. Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025 Married Taylor Krause and Garrett Josemans only hit a couple speed bumps on their way to the altar. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025 The biggest rival to Tesla saw quarterly profit fall for the first time in three and a half years as its expansion hit a speed bump amid a government campaign against price wars. CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025 The second Bob Stitt Era at Colorado School of Mines just hit its first speed bump. Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for speed bump

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of speed bump was in 1972

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Speed bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speed%20bump. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

speed bump

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

More from Merriam-Webster on speed bump

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!