tailback

noun

tail·​back ˈtāl-ˌbak How to pronounce tailback (audio)
1
: the offensive football back farthest from the line of scrimmage
2
British : a line of vehicles caused by a traffic slowdown or stoppage

Examples of tailback in a Sentence

stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tennessee has transfers at quarterback (Aguilar) and tailback (Star Thomas) leading an offense that has looked very potent so far. Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 While rookie Travis Hunter had a relatively quiet day in his NFL debut, with six catches for 33 yards, tailback Travis Etienne rolled through the Panthers for 143 rushing yards. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025 The Gophers’ tailback grabbed his hamstring after awkwardly falling to the turf. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025 Your tailbacks and your offensive line are good enough to be your base. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tailback

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailback was in 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailback. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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