tailwind

noun

tail·​wind ˈtāl-ˌwind 

plural tailwinds

1

: a wind having the same general direction as a course of movement (as of an aircraft)

2

: a force or influence that advances progress toward an improved condition

… the strengthening housing market should be providing tailwinds for home improvement retailers.

—Katherine Peralta

Medicare reform is a thorny problem even when the political tailwinds are favorable.

—Russ Wiles

Examples of tailwind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the healthy game-changer in the fold for his third Aztecs season, the tailwind would feel like a sustained gust. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

In an ironic tailwind for the time being, the swings in the stock market are actually a boon for Goldman’s trading desk, which pulls in fees by offering clients complex options and swaps in order to hedge their risks. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026

Cities like Houston, Midland and Oklahoma City have historically seen economic tailwinds when oil prices strengthen. —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026

The result is a market where structural tailwinds are stacking on top of investment demand. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailwind

• chagrined
• crosswind
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• whirlwind
• woodwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned
• sinned

Kids Definition

tail wind

noun

: a wind having the same general direction as the course of a moving object (as an aircraft)