1
: the rear flap of a man's coat
2
coattails plural
: the skirts of a dress coat, cutaway, or frock coat
3
coattails plural
: the influence or pulling power of a popular movement or person (such as a political candidate)
congressmen riding into office on the president's coattails
Examples of coattail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Burning anti-establishment anger helped lay the path for his successful 2018 presidential run, with dozens of far-right and conservative lawmakers elected on his coattails.
—
Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Democrats are counting on coattails from Harris to deliver a win for a slate of countywide candidates running in partisan races this year, including for sheriff, tax collector and election supervisor.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Powerful straight-line winds that strafed Carmichael neighborhoods, toppling trees and sending roof shingles and patio furniture flying, blew in on the coattails of thunderstorms that struck the Sacramento area Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Internally, there has been some acceptance that Villa’s business departments have ridden on Emery’s coattails at times.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coattail
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Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Democrats are counting on coattails from Harris to deliver a win for a slate of countywide candidates running in partisan races this year, including for sheriff, tax collector and election supervisor.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Powerful straight-line winds that strafed Carmichael neighborhoods, toppling trees and sending roof shingles and patio furniture flying, blew in on the coattails of thunderstorms that struck the Sacramento area Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Internally, there has been some acceptance that Villa’s business departments have ridden on Emery’s coattails at times.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coattail
Cite this Entry
“Coattail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coattail. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coattail
noun
coat·tail
ˈkōt-ˌtāl 
1
: the rear flap of a man's coat
2
plural
: the influence of a popular movement or person
politicians riding into office on the president's coattails
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