tailback

noun

tail·​back ˈtāl-ˌbak 

1

: the offensive football back farthest from the line of scrimmage

2

British : a line of vehicles caused by a traffic slowdown or stoppage

Synonyms

• jam
• congestion
• bottleneck
• snarl

Examples of tailback in a Sentence

stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway

Recent Examples on the Web

And also, late in the game, Alabama’s sideline getting angry because Georgia tailback Nick Chubb broke a long run. —Seth Emerson, New York Times, 30 July 2025

And following a scoreless (and turnover-free) spring showcase, the 49ers’ offense showed signs of explosiveness early in the action, said returning tailback Henry Rutledge. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2025

But veteran tailback Raheem Mostert was banged up early in the season; Jaylen Wright, then a rookie, wasn’t entrusted to handle a large workload; and Jeff Wilson Jr. never cracked the rotation for consistent carries. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025

What’s the 49ers’ approach at RB? After taking starting reps at tailback through the spring, Louisville transfer Don Chaney Jr. is academically ineligible and no longer with the program, according to a team spokesman. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback