tailgate

1 of 3

noun

tail·​gate ˈtāl-ˌgāt How to pronounce tailgate (audio)
1
: a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)
2
[from the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades] : a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones
3
US : tailgate party
Nowadays, tailgates have evolved into mobile feasts: face-to-face social networks where complete strangers bond over food and drink, and everyone is eager to share.Greg Ferro

tailgate

2 of 3

verb

tailgated; tailgating

intransitive verb

1
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
2
US : to have a tailgate party

transitive verb

: to drive dangerously close behind
tailgater noun

tailgate

3 of 3

adjective

US
: relating to or being a tailgate party

Examples of tailgate in a Sentence

Verb He hit the car in front of him because he was tailgating. They started tailgating at 10 o'clock.
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.
Noun
The design also caters for storage in the recessed bed, with access gained via the tailgate, as well as in-cabin nooks for smaller items. New Atlas, 11 July 2025 Rightline Gear Truck Bed Tent Turn your pickup into a home away from home with this $85 floorless tent that fits snugly over a truck bed and tailgate. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2025
Verb
According to Rocky River, Ohio, police, the incident occurred on June 15 when Hamdan allegedly tailgated Miller's vehicle, swerved erratically, and ultimately veered into his lane, causing the congressman to drive off the road to avoid a collision. Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 As neighbors and a Times reporter and photographer drove away from the site, the silver pickup followed for several miles, tailgating and swerving erratically. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Adjective
Instead of the tailgate galley common on this style of all-terrain squaredrop, Imperial goes with a slide-out kitchen at the rear. New Atlas, 23 June 2025 Father’s Day Sunday: Royals vs. Athletics, 1:10 p.m. Fans who purchase a theme ticket will receive a tailgate meal in the Hall of Fame Tent prior to the game. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tailgate

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailgate was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tailgate

1 of 2 noun
tail·​gate ˈtā(ə)l-ˌgāt How to pronounce tailgate (audio)
: a panel at the back end of a vehicle (as a station wagon) that can be let down for loading and unloading

tailgate

2 of 2 verb
tailgated; tailgating
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle

More from Merriam-Webster on tailgate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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