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
Greg Ferro
tailgated; tailgating
1
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
2
US
: to have a tailgate party
: to drive dangerously close behind
tailgater
noun
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
Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
The automaker will ship partially built Grenadiers—shorn of their tailgates, seating, and all but the most necessary of electrical equipment—from its French factory to Botswana, where the shop is based.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Perhaps a set of removable walls and tailgate to box the bed in?
—New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
The pies are so popular that people camp out tailgate-style on those days before Thanksgiving, pitching chairs and barbecuing, in order to grab a fresh pie for their holiday table.
—Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
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
Gerber’s compact cutting board set turns any picnic table or tailgate into a functional kitchen.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
The automaker will ship partially built Grenadiers—shorn of their tailgates, seating, and all but the most necessary of electrical equipment—from its French factory to Botswana, where the shop is based.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
When Ferrell's eldest was attending his alma mater — the University of Southern California — the actor made headlines DJing a Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity tailgate during Trojan Family Weekend.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Perhaps a set of removable walls and tailgate to box the bed in?
—New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Last month, the Steelers played the Bears at Soldier Field, so Valdez and about 30 family members bought tickets and a tailgate package through M&M Events and Promotions.
—Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
The pies are so popular that people camp out tailgate-style on those days before Thanksgiving, pitching chairs and barbecuing, in order to grab a fresh pie for their holiday table.
—Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
Cite this Entry
“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tailgate
1 of 2 noun
tail·gate
ˈtā(ə)l-ˌgāt 
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share