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

Mayfield was arrested on charges during a traffic stop conducted while investigators were searching the residence. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

Pliego, who does not have a criminal record, according to a court filing, was in a van with Salgado Araujo on July 7 when the shooting occurred during a traffic stop. — Armando Garcia, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Now more broadly, another thing that’s come up a lot is traffic stops. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Local police routinely receive extensive instruction in traffic stops, neighborhood patrol, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and managing unpredictable encounters with the public. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 July 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