piggyback

adverb pig·gy·back \ ˈpi-gē-ˌbak \

variants: or less commonly pickaback play \ˈpi-gē-, ˈpi-kə-\

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of piggyback

1 : up on the back and shoulders

2 : on or as if on the back of another; especially : on a railroad flatcar

See piggyback defined for kids

piggyback was our Word of the Day on 03/12/2013. Hear the podcast!

Origin and Etymology of piggyback

alteration of earlier a pick pack, of unknown origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1565

See Words from the same year

piggyback

noun

variants: or less commonly pickaback

Definition of piggyback

1 : the act of carrying piggyback

2 : the movement of loaded truck trailers on railroad flatcars

See piggyback defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of piggyback from the Web

This mischievous song was complemented by some of BTS’s funnest moves including Michael Jackson-style hopping, slow-motion walking and piggyback rides.

— caitlin kelley, Billboard, "BTS's Best Dance Moves Over the Years," 21 Nov. 2017
In order to alleviate the crunch, rookie Tyler Glasnow will come out of the bullpen on Wednesday in a piggyback role behind starter Steven Brault.

— USA TODAY, "Suter, Braun help Brewers beat Bucs to gain in playoff race," 18 Sep. 2017
The most effective resurfacing treatments for stretch marks piggyback on skin’s natural ability to heal itself.

— meirav devash, Allure, "This Tattoo Artist Completely Disguises Stretch Marks With Skin-Colored Ink," 1 Nov. 2017
Many of Anthem’s allegations piggyback on criminal lawsuits brought by federal prosecutors against former Insys employees or doctors with close ties to the company.

— joseph walker, WSJ, "Anthem Files Civil Suit Against Insys Therapeutics," 13 July 2017
Paris also shared a sweet behind-the-scenes video of her brother giving her a piggyback ride at the event on her Instagram.

— maria pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Paris and Prince Jackson Step Out for Halloween in Rare Joint Appearance," 28 Oct. 2017
While most private jets typically have two engines, the Vision sports a single jet engine attached piggyback-style atop the fuselage.

— jonathan welsh, WSJ, "The Family-Friendly Private Jet Takes Off," 8 Sep. 2017
Like HiFiRE, China's DF-ZF piggybacks on the back of a missile to reach speeds between Mach 5 to Mach 10 and has been tested seven times, the latest in April 2016.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. and Australia Conducted a Secretive Hypersonic Missile Test," 18 July 2017
Tainted to those who forgo paying the fee to be a part of this event and piggyback on those who do.

— sainted & tainted writers, Twin Cities, "Sainted: A difficult day, then spilled soda. And then a hand and a burger, on the good house," 20 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piggyback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of piggyback

circa 1592

piggyback

adjective

variants: or less commonly pickaback

Definition of piggyback

1 : marked by being up on the shoulders and back

a child needs hugging, tussling, and piggyback rides
—Benjamin Spock

2 : carried or transported piggyback: such as

a : of or relating to the hauling of truck trailers on railroad flatcars

b : being or relating to something carried into space as an extra load by a vehicle (such as a spacecraft)

See piggyback defined for kids

First Known Use of piggyback

1784

piggyback

verb

variants: or less commonly pickaback

Definition of piggyback

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another

See piggyback defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of piggyback from the Web

By piggybacking on the diagnostic hardware, Hampson and his colleagues were able to record, and later deliver, electrical activity.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "A Brain-Boosting Prosthesis Moves From Rats to Humans," 6 Apr. 2018
There are hard political issues in play, like whether publishers will retain control of their audience data or whether ad networks like Google can piggyback on publishers’ consent forms.

— russell brandom, The Verge, "How Europe’s new privacy rule is reshaping the internet," 28 Mar. 2018
The federal government’s GSA serves as a model for states, and states can piggyback off GSA contracts.

— joseph n. distefano, Philly.com, "State IT deals: Q&A with PennDOT CIO Phil Tomassini," 26 Mar. 2018
Cocoa is Ghana’s other natural bounty, and producers are piggybacking on the oil boom.

— tim mcdonnell, New York Times, "What’s the World’s Fastest-Growing Economy? Ghana Contends for the Crown," 10 Mar. 2018
Portland is piggybacking on an agreement between Sound Transit, the Seattle metro area's transit agency, and the company in Brookville.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Portland will buy two new streetcars for $10 million, with potential plans for more," 21 Mar. 2018
The country’s solar industry is thought to have piggybacked on Germany’s generous renewable-energy subsidies and has benefited from massive government support.

— The Economist, "China is rapidly developing its clean-energy technology," 15 Mar. 2018
Wardell and Stardock weren’t happy, and Stardock alleged that Ford and Reiche were piggybacking on Stardock’s own publicity with their game announcement.

— lee hutchinson, Ars Technica, "Star Control countersuit aims to invalidate Stardock’s trademarks [Updated]," 22 Feb. 2018
Legion of Honor curator Melissa Buron sees the Casanova show as a chance to piggyback on a once-in-a-lifetime cultural awakening.

— kimberly chrisman-campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "When Casanova met #MeToo," 3 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of piggyback

1895

PIGGYBACK Defined for English Language Learners

piggyback

noun

Definition of piggyback for English Language Learners

: the act of carrying someone on your back or shoulders

piggyback

verb

Definition of piggyback for English Language Learners

: to be carried by or connected to something else or to cause (something) to be carried by or connected to something else

PIGGYBACK Defined for Kids

piggyback

adverb or adjective pig·gy·back \ ˈpi-gē-ˌbak \

Definition of piggyback for Students

: on the back or shoulders

The child wanted a piggyback ride.

Learn More about piggyback

See words that rhyme with piggyback Spanish Central: Translation of piggyback Nglish: Translation of piggyback for Spanish speakers

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piggyback

Definition of piggyback

piggyback was our Word of the Day on 03/12/2013. Hear the podcast!

Origin and Etymology of piggyback

piggyback

Definition of piggyback

Recent Examples of piggyback from the Web

First Known Use of piggyback

piggyback

Definition of piggyback

First Known Use of piggyback

piggyback

Definition of piggyback

Recent Examples of piggyback from the Web

First Known Use of piggyback

Phrases Related to PIGGYBACK

Related Phrases

PIGGYBACK Defined for English Language Learners

piggyback

Definition of piggyback for English Language Learners

piggyback

Definition of piggyback for English Language Learners

PIGGYBACK Defined for Kids

piggyback

Definition of piggyback for Students

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