traffic stop

noun

plural traffic stops

: an instance of police stopping a driver (as for speeding or a broken taillight)

She was pulled over for a routine traffic stop.

an officer making a traffic stop

Examples of traffic stop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unknown man, on March 30 A man died after a Gladstone police officer and two Clay County sheriff’s deputies shot at him during a traffic stop in the area of North Garfield Avenue and Northeast Englewood Road, in Kansas City. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025

In addition to the murder charge, McMiller and White faced counts of first-degree battery and possession of drugs with intent to deliver related to the traffic stop. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2025

Officer justified in 2024 shooting, Boise police says Attorneys for both sides painted different pictures of the afternoon traffic stop that led Sgt. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2025

The vehicle was stopped during a traffic stop. —Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for traffic stop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• overtop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop