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

The first of those three weapons is Pro Bowl tailback in Achane, who gained 39-yards on seven carries in that first drive. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

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

His competition for backup tailback, Jordan James, didn’t take part in the last third of practice. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 28 July 2026

That should allow star running back De’Von Achane to find space to scoot around the edge, or for rotational tailbacks Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II to pound it along the left side. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 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