1
: the offensive football back farthest from the line of scrimmage
2
British
: a line of vehicles caused by a traffic slowdown or stoppage
Examples of tailback in a Sentence
stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway
Recent Examples on the Web
Lost in the pain of the Broncos' win streaks dying was another decent night from rookie tailback RJ Harvey.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
The former Florida Gators tailback played with rookies Cam Jackson, Princely Umanmielen and Trevor Etienne during his college career.
—Mike Kaye
december 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Dec. 2025
The game would break open when Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis missed a tackle on a 38-yard run that Steelers tailback Kenneth Gainwell bounced to the right.
—Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
The four-star running back broke current Vikings tailback Aaron Jones’ high school rushing records in El Paso, Texas.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailback
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Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
The former Florida Gators tailback played with rookies Cam Jackson, Princely Umanmielen and Trevor Etienne during his college career.
—Mike Kaye
december 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Dec. 2025
The game would break open when Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis missed a tackle on a 38-yard run that Steelers tailback Kenneth Gainwell bounced to the right.
—Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
The four-star running back broke current Vikings tailback Aaron Jones’ high school rushing records in El Paso, Texas.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailback
Cite this Entry
“Tailback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailback. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.
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