tailback

noun

tail·​back ˈtāl-ˌbak 

1

: the offensive football back farthest from the line of scrimmage

2

British : a line of vehicles caused by a traffic slowdown or stoppage

Synonyms of tailback

• jam
• congestion
• bottleneck
• snarl

Examples of tailback in a Sentence

stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway

Recent Examples on the Web

Duke has a rising star in tailback Nate Sheppard, who ran for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman. — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

The Eagles’ players to watch include quarterback Erick Osorio, tailback Jose Benitz and linebacker Jonathan Resendiz. — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2026

But is there room for four tailbacks on the 53-man roster of this team? — Omar Kelly august 17, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

The tailback captured the hearts and eyes of everyone who watched. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailback

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback