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
States are expected to ensure drivers can speak English before giving them a commercial license, and law enforcement is expected to check driver's language skills during any traffic stops or inspections.
—
Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Maurice Pierce died in 2010 after a confrontation with police after a traffic stop.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Satanic Slasher's got a heck of a body count already when he’s pulled over by cops for a routine traffic stop, and Kansas highway patrol officer Jane Archer (Georgina Campbell) watches her husband get gunned down in cold blood in front of her.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Officers located the vehicle on East Main Street and conducted a traffic stop.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traffic stop
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.
Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Maurice Pierce died in 2010 after a confrontation with police after a traffic stop.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Satanic Slasher's got a heck of a body count already when he’s pulled over by cops for a routine traffic stop, and Kansas highway patrol officer Jane Archer (Georgina Campbell) watches her husband get gunned down in cold blood in front of her.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Officers located the vehicle on East Main Street and conducted a traffic stop.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traffic stop
Cite this Entry
“Traffic stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20stop. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
