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

Returns from European or Asian equities, when translated back into dollars, receive a currency tailwind that can meaningfully augment local-currency performance. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Woods noted that the benchmark has advanced in July during each of the last eight years following a negative June performance, suggesting the seasonal pattern could provide a tailwind for equities. — Yun Li, CNBC, 29 June 2026

The drop in oil prices is a tailwind for stocks, but until the conflict is settled, the Middle East turmoil remains a risk. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

Had history caught a different tailwind, those crêpe shops might have been fish and chips joints. — Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailwind

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

Kids Definition

tail wind

noun

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