chop shop

noun

: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped of salable parts

Examples of chop shop 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.
This has led to an increase in chop shops in the U.K. Through the first half of 2024, local authorities have uncovered 37 chop shops throughout the country, a big increase from last year. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2024 Members of the Greater Hartford Regional Auto Theft Task Force identified and located the chop shop at a residence in the south district of the city after initiating an investigation into the rise of car thefts, wheel and tire thefts and car break-ins, according to the Hartford Police Department. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2024 After arresting and questioning the chop shop owner, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office said, investigators followed the trail of Baumgardner and Vera Moran. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024 What started with a chop shop bust in Doral took investigators to an Allapattah building with a 70-year-old auto tag agency and a clerk accused of running a $3 million car title fraud. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for chop shop 

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chop shop was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near chop shop

Cite this Entry

“Chop shop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chop%20shop. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

chop shop

noun
: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped for salable parts

Legal Definition

chop-shop

noun
ˈchäp-ˌshäp
: a place where stolen automobiles are stripped of salable parts

More from Merriam-Webster on chop shop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!