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

Chicago police have alternately been accused of disregarding federal agents’ 911 calls and aiding immigration enforcement through traffic stops and crowd control. — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Miller was arrested Tuesday after a traffic stop where authorities found him allegedly in possession of two handguns equipped with a machine gun conversion device, according to a federal complaint. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Our traffic team and officers made more than 8,800 traffic stops in 2025 and 5,300 so far in 2026. — Olivia Young, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Parker officers made more than 8,800 traffic stops in 2025 and have made more than 5,500 stops so far this year, Hans said. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 10 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