English Explanatory Dictionary

Terry stop

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The brief detention of a person by the police on reasonable suspicion of involvement in criminal activity but short of probable cause to arrest.

Word forms

Terry stop Terry stops

Etymology

From the legal case Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), in which the Supreme Court held that police may briefly detain a person who they reasonably suspect is involved in criminal activity.

Related words

Terry search
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