piggyback
verb
variants
or less commonly pickaback
piggybacked also pickabacked; piggybacking also pickabacking; piggybacks also pickabacks
1
: to carry up on the shoulders and back
2
: to haul (something, such as a truck trailer) by railroad car
3
: to set up or cause to function in conjunction with something larger, more important, or already in existence or operation
: to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another
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Piggyback was first used in the 16th century as an adverb, meaning "up on the back and shoulders" (as in "the child was carried piggyback"). It comes from a phrase of unknown origin, a pick pack. There is also the less-common adverb pickaback. The verb piggyback didn't piggyback on the adverb until the 19th century.
Examples of piggyback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What if, instead of piggybacking an existing intellectual property, the manufacturer created one of its own?
—
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Ritti Singh, a spokesperson for the Valdez campaign, accused Reynoso of piggybacking on the popularity of Mamdani and his progressive agenda in the deep-blue district.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
That would essentially allow the Medicare program to piggyback on other countries that negotiate the prices of some of the most expensive medicines.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
He was tied for second in goals and had the most shots on target the previous two seasons, piggybacking on his MLS Golden Boot in 2023.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piggyback
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Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Ritti Singh, a spokesperson for the Valdez campaign, accused Reynoso of piggybacking on the popularity of Mamdani and his progressive agenda in the deep-blue district.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
That would essentially allow the Medicare program to piggyback on other countries that negotiate the prices of some of the most expensive medicines.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
He was tied for second in goals and had the most shots on target the previous two seasons, piggybacking on his MLS Golden Boot in 2023.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piggyback
Cite this Entry
“Piggyback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piggyback. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
piggyback
1 of 2 adverb or adjective
pig·gy·back
ˈpig-ē-ˌbak 
variants
also pickaback
ˈpig-ē-ˌbak
ˈpik-ə-
1
: on the back or shoulders
2
: on a railroad flatcar
piggyback
2 of 2 noun
: the act of carrying piggyback
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