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

What led to the trooper making the traffic stop also is unknown, as Idaho State Police declined to provide further information about the incident. — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2026

Police conducted a traffic stop and identified Miller as the driver. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026

The United States Park Police released photos on Saturday in hopes the community recognizes a trio riding dirt bikes that fled a traffic stop and injured a Park police officer in the Rockaways. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Brown was also arrested in July in Georgia during a traffic stop on Interstate 85. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 7 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