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 of tailback

• 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

The Broncos also will need more production from tailbacks Jaleel McLaughlin and RJ Harvey, who combined for 41 rushing yards across just 10 carries against Buffalo. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026

The 49ers didn’t have a single running back break 300 yards last season, and while the line struggled to open holes, the tailbacks couldn’t hold on to the ball. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Jan. 2026

Though tailback Saquon Barkley finished with 106 rushing yards, he was held for no gain or negative yards on five carries. —Matt Barrows, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

At running back, Miami will likely go with a heavy dose of young tailbacks Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II, while veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. was called up from the practice squad Saturday. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

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