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

City police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, which occurred after a traffic stop, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said while briefing reporters along with the city's mayor and other officials. — Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters Sunday that the shooting occurred after a traffic stop. — Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Salgado Araujo was killed after agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026

He then allegedly was estimated to be driving 130 mph by a Sunrise Police Department officer while fleeing a traffic stop on the Sawgrass Expressway, according to the affidavit. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 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