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

Samuel Bateman, 50, was convicted of three child abuse counts stemming from an August 2022 traffic stop in Flagstaff that led to the discovery of three girls, ages 11 to 14, in the trailer. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

The male driver and woman passenger reported that the officers smashed the car window during the late-night traffic stop in Phoenix, according to a statement from Phoenix police. — CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Sunday that the Border Patrol arrested Aviles during a traffic stop in Key West. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

The male driver and female passenger reported that during the late-night traffic stop in Phoenix, the officers smashed the car window, according to a statement from Phoenix police. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for traffic stop

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