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
Another nominee seasoned by primary battles could have fared better against the very flawed Trump and provided coattails for other Democratic candidates.
—
George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Michael Dukakis was the last Democratic nominee for president to lose Miami-Dade, and an opportunity for Republicans to ride presidential coattails after 36 years would come at a particularly unwelcome time for local Democrats.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
Again, this is not an argument for getting rid of tax sales or any enforcement mechanisms because then a lot of folks who are bad actors would be able to really ride the coattails of what would be a cause of protecting those most vulnerable.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Whereas Johnson first entered the House, in 2016, on Trump’s coattails, Thune is a Republican of the Reagan-Bush vintage, first elected to the Senate, from South Dakota, in 2004.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
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George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Michael Dukakis was the last Democratic nominee for president to lose Miami-Dade, and an opportunity for Republicans to ride presidential coattails after 36 years would come at a particularly unwelcome time for local Democrats.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
Again, this is not an argument for getting rid of tax sales or any enforcement mechanisms because then a lot of folks who are bad actors would be able to really ride the coattails of what would be a cause of protecting those most vulnerable.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Whereas Johnson first entered the House, in 2016, on Trump’s coattails, Thune is a Republican of the Reagan-Bush vintage, first elected to the Senate, from South Dakota, in 2004.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 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 5 May. 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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