tailgate

1 of 3

noun

tail·​gate ˈtāl-ˌgāt 

1

: a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)

2

[from the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades] : a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones

3

US : tailgate party

Nowadays, tailgates have evolved into mobile feasts: face-to-face social networks where complete strangers bond over food and drink, and everyone is eager to share.

—Greg Ferro

tailgate

2 of 3

verb

tailgated; tailgating

intransitive verb

1

: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle

2

US : to have a tailgate party

transitive verb

: to drive dangerously close behind

tailgater noun

tailgate

3 of 3

adjective

US

: relating to or being a tailgate party

Examples of tailgate in a Sentence

Verb

He hit the car in front of him because he was tailgating.

They started tailgating at 10 o'clock.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Creamy, smoky and a little spicy, deviled eggs are a welcome addition to virtually any gathering, from Sunday brunch to neighborly potlucks, sports tailgates and holiday celebrations. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024

The scene felt a lot like a concert tailgate with a camaraderie among the eclectic crowd. —Levi Mandel, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tailgate

• tailgate party

Kids Definition

tailgate

1 of 2 noun

tail·​gate ˈtā(ə)l-ˌgāt 

: a panel at the back end of a vehicle (as a station wagon) that can be let down for loading and unloading

tailgate

2 of 2 verb

tailgated; tailgating

: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle