stop press: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “stop press” mean?
A late or last-minute news item added to a newspaper after printing has begun, traditionally used in British English.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A late or last-minute news item added to a newspaper after printing has begun, traditionally used in British English.
Any important, urgent, or very recent piece of information that arrives after a process has already been finalized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates from and remains predominantly British. In American English, the equivalent concept is 'late-breaking news' or 'news flash'.
Connotations
In British English, it evokes traditional print journalism. In American English, it may sound archaic or British.
Frequency
Rare in modern American usage; retains niche usage in formal British contexts and as a metaphor.
Grammar
How to Use “stop press” in a Sentence
[stop press] + [noun] (e.g., stop press announcement)[verb] + [stop press] (e.g., issue a stop press)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stop press” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The story was added stop-press.
adjective
British English
- The editor made a stop-press insertion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for last-minute changes to reports or deals: 'We have a stop press revision to the quarterly figures.'
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical/media studies contexts discussing journalism.
Everyday
Used humorously or ironically to announce sudden personal news: 'Stop press! I've just won two tickets to the concert!'
Technical
Not applicable in modern IT/publishing; a historical print term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stop press”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stop press”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stop press”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They stop-pressed the news').
- Using it in modern American contexts without irony.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In digital journalism, the term is largely historical. It survives metaphorically in some formal British contexts and in idiomatic, often humorous, everyday use.
No, it is not standard to use it as a verb (e.g., 'to stop press something'). It functions as a compound noun or adjectivally (stop-press).
'Late-breaking news' or 'news flash' are common equivalents, though they lack the specific historical print connotations.
It refers to the practice of literally stopping a physical printing press to insert a late news item into a newspaper edition before printing resumed.
A late or last-minute news item added to a newspaper after printing has begun, traditionally used in British English.
Stop press is usually formal/journalistic in register.
Stop press: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɒp ˈpres/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɑːp ˈpres/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stop press! (used to introduce urgent news)”
- “In stop press fashion (done at the last minute)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a newspaper printer literally STOPping the PRESs to add one final story.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS A PRINTED OBJECT (that can be interrupted).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'stop press' be most naturally used today?