stoptime

Stoptime, also written stop-time or stoptime, is a term used in several fields to denote a deliberate pause in tempo or timing. Its exact meaning varies by domain, most commonly in music and in sports timing.

In music, stop-time refers to a rhythmic device in which the rhythm section produces brief accents or hits while the soloist continues. After each hit, the ensemble may rest for most of the measure, creating space for the soloist or for dramatic effect. The pattern is associated with big-band and jazz practice from the mid-20th century and can be used to punctuate phrases, heighten tension, or isolate a melodic idea. It is distinct from a full rest or a complete tempo change.

In sports, stoptime or stop-time describes conditions under which the game clock is paused and later restarted. Clocks are typically halted for events such as fouls, injuries, timeouts, or out-of-bounds plays, and restarted upon the next play or possession. The specifics—what triggers the stop and when the clock resumes—vary by sport, league, and competition level.

The term may appear in other contexts, sometimes as a technical label for a pause in a procedure or process, but it is mainly used in its musical or sporting senses described above.