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

Responding deputies spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, according to the sheriff's department. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

This means an encounter that begins as a traffic stop or another interaction with local law enforcement, could lead to questions about your immigration status or a being taken into federal custody. — Ascend Agency, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Dicus said deputies were not aware that anyone was in the trunk of the car during the traffic stop. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

The detail arranged the traffic stop on the other side of the island, in front of the Lihue post office, under the assumption that Brun would surrender peacefully in such a public location. — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 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