tailgate

play

noun tail·gate \ ˈtāl-ˌgāt \

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of tailgate

1 :a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)

[from the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades]

:a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones

3 US :tailgate party

Nowadays, tailgates have evolved into mobile feasts: face-to-face social networks where complete strangers bond over food and drink, and everyone is eager to share.
—Greg Ferro

See tailgate defined for English-language learners

See tailgate defined for kids

Recent Examples of tailgate from the Web

Guys are expected to enjoy tailgates and all this man food and meats and not worry about portions.

— claire zulkey, The Atlantic, "How Therapy Can Cure Overeating," 23 Aug. 2017
Members, log in below to take this trivia quiz. Plus, get an additional 10% off USA TODAY NETWORK Shop items like the All-Terrain Sound portable speaker and the Mini Beer Pong Set for your next game day tailgate! Can't see the details?

— Indianapolis Star, "Pro Football Trivia," 18 Aug. 2017
The results of those deals might be spotted at tailgates, but brewers are making inroads inside the stadiums, too.

— diana kruzman, USA TODAY College, "College football fans love beer. Now universities want to cash in," 9 Aug. 2017
Among the many rituals beloved by Phish fans, the hardest to transplant to New York is the tailgate party, given the lack of outdoor parking attached to Madison Square Garden.

— caroline tell, New York Times, "Phish Fans Flock to New York for 13-Concert Marathon," 18 July 2017
The Park at Wrigley was the watering hole for these Parrotheads, who are accustomed to pre-concert tailgates in parking lots.

— rebecca aydin, chicagotribune.com, "Parrotheads converge on Wrigley for Buffett love," 16 July 2017
After the friendly, the Coopers and the Pride joined each other for a pregame party at Goodwood Brewing Company in place of a tailgate.

— drew hill, The Courier-Journal, "Plastic Cup game takes edge off Louisville City-FC Cincinnati rivalry," 15 July 2017
Also standard are leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, keyless entry and ignition, a hands-free tailgate function and a very good rear-view camera.

— charles fleming, latimes.com, "Volvo's V90 Cross Country — Wagon Ho!," 30 June 2017
The pimento cheese revolution has turned one of my favorite tailgate spreads—and the only reason for mayonnaise to exist—into the latest trendy burger topping/chip dip.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink near Miramar Beach, Florida," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tailgate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of tailgate

1854

tailgate

verb

Definition of tailgate

tailgated; tailgating

intransitive verb

1 :to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle

2 US :to have a tailgate party

transitive verb

:to drive dangerously close behind

—

tailgater

noun

See tailgate defined for English-language learners

Examples of tailgate in a Sentence

He hit the car in front of him because he was tailgating.
They started tailgating at 10 o'clock.

Recent Examples of tailgate from the Web

Scene and heard • Two different groups of Aztecs fans tailgated in Section F before the scrimmage.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SDSU's Fan Fest scrimmage shows there's still plenty of work to do before season opener," 19 Aug. 2017
Plus, get an additional 10% off tailgating products from the USA TODAY NETWORK Shop!

— Indianapolis Star, "What's Your Tailgate Personality?," 18 Aug. 2017
At 5:10 p.m. July 19, police responded to a call of a motorist tailgating another driver.

— michael peltier, cleveland.com, "Crime writer Karin Slaughter to visit on latest book tour: Community Voices," 27 July 2017
And one editor wondered about the $1850 Meridian sound system’s lack of loudness when listened to from outside of the Rover while tailgating.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "2016 Range Rover Td6 Diesel," 6 July 2017
To rude, immature drivers who bully others and endanger lives by tailgating.

— seattle times readers, The Seattle Times, "Rant & Rave: Rude tailgaters," 8 June 2017
Kay Williams wasn't going to let a little rain damper her tailgating party before the Jimmy Buffett concert Tuesday night at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Ala.

— brian kelly, AL.com, "Parrot Heads tailgate at muddy Jimmy Buffett show in Orange Beach," 7 June 2017
The car tailgated me down the street and, turned in front of me (!) into the intersection, right near a crossing guard and groups of children and parents headed to school.

— lynn petrak, chicagotribune.com, "Petrak: Everybody has a responsibility to report crimes," 7 June 2017
Hutson tailgated the car, intending to have a conversation with the driver, but never got the chance, according to his girlfriend.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "Mo. Man Charged With Murder in Kansas City, Mo., Road Rage Shooting That Left 19-Year-Old Father-to-Be Dead," 6 June 2017

First Known Use of tailgate

1949

tailgate

adjective

Definition of tailgate

:relating to or being a tailgate party

Recent Examples of tailgate from the Web

Spectators can purchase individual tailgate spots for $30 online or onsite.

— chuck fieldman, chicagotribune.com, "Hinsdale man adjusting after being paralyzed in polo accident," 16 Aug. 2017
Bratwurst and hot dog dinners will be served at a tailgate party in the parking lot from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Pre-order forms are available at all schools or by calling 330-636-3012.

— ann norman, cleveland.com, "Medina schools news: Meet the Teacher Nights, new Root associate principal, Spirit Night, Community Chats, Parent EdCamp," 31 July 2017
A tailgate party in conjunction with the event will be 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Delhi Remke Markets, 5025 Delhi Ave.

— forrest sellers, Cincinnati.com, "Delhi Skirt Game far from a drag," 27 July 2017
This southern tailgate staple is clearly the hot appetizer of the moment.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Houston," 30 June 2017
Fortunately, college football fans are very generous with tailgate food, so I've been offered everything from gator to pig ear.

— melody kitchens, Southern Living, "Seven Questions with ESPN's Samantha Ponder," 12 June 2017
Support CRS while watching the Lake Erie Crushers take on the Washington Wild Things at 7:05 p.m. Join CRS for a tailgate party before the game from 6 to 7 p.m. by the Brew Kettle tent on the third base side.

— julie a. short/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Area high schools celebrate graduation: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 5 June 2017
Sloan hosts tailgate parties before spring training games and puts flusher handles on the beer taps.

— ally marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Toilets, chocolate and lighting: Cubs' official partners get nontraditional," 1 June 2017
When Dylann went to the University of Oregon and became an all-conference defensive standout on the women’s soccer team, Smith organized parent tailgate parties and worked around them to make opening kick.

— tom hoffarth, Orange County Register, "Sunday media: ESPN’s Shelley Smith stays bonded with mom, daughter in a Mother’s Day work schedule," 13 May 2017

First Known Use of tailgate

1962

Financial Definition of TAILGATE

tailgate

verb

What It Is

Tailgating occurs when a broker buys or sells a security after doing the same for a client.

How It Works

Let's say John Doe is a broker for Jane Smith. Jane calls John and tells him she just saw a press release that Company XYZ is bringing in a new hot-shot CEO. She tells him to buy 5,000 shares of Company XYZ for her account. John executes the trade for Jane and then tailgates by buying another 5,000 shares for himself because he has been watching Company XYZ and agrees with Jane that the CEO change should be a good thing for the stockholders.

In some cases, brokers tailgate when the client's order is so large that its execution will affect the price of the security.

Why It Matters

Tailgating is not the same as frontrunning. In frontrunning, the broker executes the trade for his own account before executing the client's trade. In tailgating, the broker executes the trade for his own account after executing the client's trade. Frontrunning is illegal; tailgating is just in poor taste for many reasons, not the least of which is that the broker's job is to make money for his clients and know more than they do.

Source: Investing Answers

TAILGATE Defined for English Language Learners

tailgate

play

noun

Definition of tailgate for English Language Learners

: a door at the back of a vehicle (such as a station wagon or pickup truck) that opens downward and that can be lowered or removed to make it easier to load things into the vehicle

tailgate

verb

Definition of tailgate for English Language Learners

: to drive too closely behind another vehicle
: to have a tailgate party

TAILGATE Defined for Kids

tailgate

play

noun tail·gate \ ˈtāl-ˌgāt \

Definition of tailgate for Students

:a panel at the back end of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading and unloading

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See words that rhyme with tailgate Spanish Central: Translation of tailgate Nglish: Translation of tailgate for Spanish speakers

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tailgate

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tailgater

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tailgate

Definition of tailgate

Recent Examples of tailgate from the Web

First Known Use of tailgate

Financial Definition of TAILGATE

What It Is

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Why It Matters

TAILGATE Defined for English Language Learners

tailgate

Definition of tailgate for English Language Learners

tailgate

Definition of tailgate for English Language Learners

TAILGATE Defined for Kids

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