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
Kudos to Jackson Acker, who didn't get the start at tailback but rushed 14 times for a college-high 86 yards and a touchdown.
—
Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024
Princeton triple-threat tailback Richard Kazmaier wins the Heisman Trophy.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The 5-foot-6 tailback joined Sproles and Tyler Lockett as the only Wildcats to surpass 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023
On top of the 100-yard rushing performance against a top defense, the 5-foot-9 tailback went up and skied for a touchdown pass lobbed to him in the end zone.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024
After catching passes and returning kicks for the University of San Diego, where he was named special teams player of the year as a senior, Ken began his coaching career at USC, where his dad played tailback for the Trojans in the mid-1950s.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
With a closing on March 3, former Humboldt all-state tailback Leon Hushcha’s impassioned paintings exhibition protesting Russian’s invasion of Ukraine at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis has set attendance records.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2024
Other Heisman contenders include Ohio State tailback Keith Byars, UM quarterback Bernie Kosar, and Brigham Young quarterback Robbie Bosco.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
However the offense – loaded with first-rounders like receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and tailback Bijan Robinson, who play with a very formidable line – appears to be the sleeping giant.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024
Princeton triple-threat tailback Richard Kazmaier wins the Heisman Trophy.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The 5-foot-6 tailback joined Sproles and Tyler Lockett as the only Wildcats to surpass 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023
On top of the 100-yard rushing performance against a top defense, the 5-foot-9 tailback went up and skied for a touchdown pass lobbed to him in the end zone.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024
After catching passes and returning kicks for the University of San Diego, where he was named special teams player of the year as a senior, Ken began his coaching career at USC, where his dad played tailback for the Trojans in the mid-1950s.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
With a closing on March 3, former Humboldt all-state tailback Leon Hushcha’s impassioned paintings exhibition protesting Russian’s invasion of Ukraine at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis has set attendance records.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2024
Other Heisman contenders include Ohio State tailback Keith Byars, UM quarterback Bernie Kosar, and Brigham Young quarterback Robbie Bosco.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
However the offense – loaded with first-rounders like receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and tailback Bijan Robinson, who play with a very formidable line – appears to be the sleeping giant.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tailback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near tailback
Cite this Entry
“Tailback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailback. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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