coattail

noun

coat·​tail ˈkōt-ˌtāl 

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

Featuring a white collar and long coattails that trailed behind her, the look was designed by LV Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams, who also co-chaired the 2025 Met alongside A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo and Lewis Hamilton. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 May 2025

Borisov, Norton, and Pearce are able foils to lead acting contenders, while Strong is riding the coattails of Stan’s Apprentice bid. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025

Grasping onto the coattails of the waning mid-aughts, Simon Says failed to conjure much interest at the time. —Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

This will presumably result in less coattail voting. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coattail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids 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