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
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.
In April, a man, along with two 9-year-old girls, died in a fiery accident after taking off from a traffic stop on I-695 near Greenspring Avenue. Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025 As the vehicles reached the traffic stop and gunshots were heard, Bates said. Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Dec. 2025 Agents will also focus on traffic stop enforcement, according to the reporting on NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network. Elliott Davis, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025 The November 12 arrest near Boston at first felt like a traffic stop – but seemed bizarre as agents already seemed to know her name, the Brazilian native said. Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for traffic stop

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of traffic stop was in 1953

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traffic stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20stop. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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