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.
Arrested after Lakeville traffic stop Officers put out an alert to other law enforcement agencies to try and locate Filas. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025 Last month, a police officer was injured when an ATV driver ran him over during a traffic stop. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025 Five officers pepper-sprayed, punched and kicked Nichols, a 29-year-old father, skateboarder and FedEx worker, during a 2023 traffic stop. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 May 2025 In response to immigration advocates calling out the agreement as racial profiling, Kerner says FHP has a lawful basis to make traffic stops. Danamarie McNicholl, FOXNews.com, 8 May 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 13 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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