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.
Listen to this article A man who was allegedly found with multiple types of drugs following a traffic stop in Norwich on Monday tried taking off from state police before troopers were able to pull him out of the SUV and arrest him. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Dec. 2024 The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023. Adrian Sainz, Jonathan Mattise, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Dec. 2024 The officer followed Gomez-Peralta and activated his police lights and siren near the 6700 block of West Greenfield Avenue to initiate a traffic stop for speeding, but Gomez-Peralta increased his speed and drove away from the officer. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 3 Dec. 2024 Had police searched her name during the traffic stop, she likely would have been arrested, according to court records. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near traffic stop

Cite this Entry

“Traffic stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20stop. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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